Two of India’s biggest stars are gearing up to play the role of the father of Indian cinema, Dadasaheb Phalke, in two separate projects. A biopic is being made on the father of Indian cinema and not just once but twice over. Filmmakers, Rajkumar Hirani and SS Rajamouli, are each bringing Phalke’s story in separate projects. While Aamir Khan is set to headline one biopic, Telugu superstar Jr NTR is set to play Dadasaheb Phalke in the upcoming biopic Made in India.

Aamir Khan & Rajkumar Hirani’s Led Biopic

On Thursday, Aamir Khan announced his collaboration with director Rajkumar Hirani, their third project together after3 Idiots and PK for a biopic on Dadasaheb Phalke. The film is set to delve deep into the personal and professional journey of Phalke, the man who created India’s first feature film, Raja Harishchandra (1913). A release from Aamir Khan’s team stated that “it’s surprising that no one in Hindi cinema has yet told us the story of cinema in cinema.”

The biopic is being scripted by Abhijat Joshi, Hirani, Hindukush Bharadwaj, and Avishkar Bharadwaj and Phalke’s grandson, Chandrashekhar Srikrishna Pusalkar, is also involved in the project to provide family insights. The film is expected to go on floors in October 2025.

Jr NTR & SS Rajamouli Led Biopic

Jr. NTR, who is currently making headlines for his role in the highly anticipated War 2 alongside Hrithik Roshan, is also portraying Dadasaheb Phalke in the upcoming biopic Made in India. The film aims at the journey of Indian cinema from its formation, is being directed by SS Rajamouli and produced by Varun Gupta and SS Karthikeya. The project ‘Made in India’ was initally announced in September 2023, has been described as a pan India cinematic spectacle that explores the life and legacy of Dadasaheb Phalke, the man who laid the foundation of Indian filmmaking.

Sources close to the development reveal that a finalized script has recently been narrated to Jr. NTR, who gave nod to the project. Pinkvilla quoted the insider “NTR Jr. heard the script and was blown away with the lesser-known tales of Dadasaheb Phalke, who is termed as the ‘Father of Indian Cinema’. The story chronicles the birth and rise of Indian Cinema, and NTR was surprised with the detailing. He is excited to play the father of Indian Cinema on the big screen.”

About Dadasaheb Phalke

Dhundiraj Govind Phalke, popularly known as Dadasaheb Phalke was an Indian producer, director and screenwriter who earned the title “The Father of Indian cinema”.

His film Raja Harishchandra was the first Indian movie released in 1913, and is now known as India’s first full length mythological feature film. He made 94 feature length films and 27 short films in his career of19 years until 1937. Some of his noted works include Mohini Bhasmasur (1913), Satyavan Savitri (1914), Lanka Dahan (1917), Shri Krishna Janma (1918) and Kaliya Mardan (1919).