Hansal Mehta to direct \'edgy\' web series on gangster Vikas Dubey
Mumbai: Bollywood's firmly in the grip of 'real-life cinema' and now they are lining up to make films about the gangster Vikas Dubey, who was shot dead by the Uttar Pradesh police last month.
It's understandable that film-makers will get excited about any drama, real or reel, and Dubey life, and his death, was dramatic to say the least. Carrying a bounty of Rs 5 lakh dead or alive, he shot dead eight policemen, including a DSP, in a stunning ambush in his village as they were going to nab him. After several days on the run, he was caught in Ujjain and shot on the road to Kanpur.
The latest director to announce a film on Dubey is Hansal Mehta. It's to be a web series, since that's the thing to do in the pandemic season. Producer Shailesh R Singh's Karma Media and Entertainment, in association with Polaroid Media, have bought the rights for the upcoming project. This raises the question from whom the rights have been bought.
Hansal Mehta is known for directing acclaimed films like Aligarh, Omerta and the the National Award-winning Rajkummar Rao-starrer Shahid. He said he will approach the subject responsibly. "It is a reflection of our times and our system where politics, crime and lawmakers form a curious nexus. It is early to discuss approach but it will be approached responsibly and as a fascinating recounting.
"I see an edgy political thriller emerging out of this, and it will be very interesting to tell this story," the director said in a statement.
Shailesh Singh, who has backed films like Tanu Weds Manu, Shahid, Manoj Bajpayee-headlined Aligarh, Omerta and Judgemental Hain Kya, said he is excited to bring Dubey's life to the screen.
"I have been following the whole story quite closely through news agencies and other means, killing of eight policemen shook the nation and started the seven days trail of Vikas Dubey which finally saw him killed in an encounter.
"I thought why not tell this story to the entire nation and bring out some real facts and go to the inner depth of the great to tell this story. I am overwhelmed to tell this story and really looking forward to it," Singh said.
