Biopics are the flavour of the season in Bollywood. Some biopics have already released and some are in the filming stage and among the biopics up for release is a biopic on Shakeela Khan. Director Indrajit Lankesh is all set to present a biopic on south film industry’s adult film star Shakeela, who ruled the entire south film industry back in 90’s and continues to work even today as an actress.
In the film, we will see Richa Chadha play the titular role and to make sure she gets the nuances of her character right, Richa had a rendezvous with Shakeela in Bangalore before she began shooting. Seeing the camaraderie between both the actors and also to honour Shakeela’s popularity, Indrajeet also roped in the real Shakeela for a cameo in the film.
Speaking about it, director Indrajit Lankesh said,
I always wanted to make a film on Shakeela, I was immensely impressed with her on screen and off screen personality. I wanted to portray her story, the hardships and rough phase when she was not getting films and was trying for character roles. I wanted to show the true story behind the superstar Shakeela. She has been an integral part of the making of this film and she has given us such detailed insights into her life. Even Richa got to spend time with her, understand her style of talking, her body language and such nuances. In fact when she came on set, she gave us very interesting insights like about our art direction and how her house was and is in real life, such small details have helped us. It was nice shooting her for Shakeela biopic, though I have shot with her before for my other film in 2003. That sparked an interest in me to make a film on her and in 2015 after conceiving the idea of making a film on her I met her and realised my dream. I feel every woman and girl who wants to be an actress should see her story, to know what she went through to become an actress and how it was such a compelling rags to riches to rags story of her life.
It would be great to see the real and reel Shakeela in one frame together.