Mumbai: The long-anticipated Kishore Kumar biopic, starring Ranbir Kapoor and directed by Anurag Basu, is finally moving forward as copyright issues with the legendary singer’s family have been resolved.
The project, initially announced in 2012 after the success of "Barfi," was put on hold due to objections from Kumar's family regarding copyright matters. Despite the delay, Anurag Basu remained in contact with Kishore Kumar’s family over the years, but the legalities persisted, hindering the film's progress.
Now, there is a breakthrough on the horizon for the project.
According to an industry source, all copyright issues surrounding the Kishore Kumar biopic have been resolved, and Bhushan Kumar of T-Series has acquired the rights from the legal heirs of the iconic singer. Amit Kumar, Kishore Kumar's son, who had objected to the film for years, has also agreed to the project, reported Pinkvilla.
With the legal matters settled, Anurag Basu and Ranbir Kapoor are re-energised and planning to commence filming sometime in the next year. Although the script has been in development for years, it will undergo modifications based on suggestions from Amit Kumar. Anurag Basu is keen not to further delay the project and will shift his focus to the Kishore Kumar biopic after completing his current commitments. Ranbir Kapoor is equally committed to the project and will finalise the shooting schedule once Anurag Basu is prepared.
Anurag Basu intends to present Kishore Kumar's life story on the silver screen in a highly entertaining manner, planning for a grand production.
Ranbir Kapoor is expected to undergo a significant transformation to portray the iconic singer accurately, sporting three different looks representing Kishore Kumar from ages 19 to 58. Although specific shooting timelines have not been confirmed, the filmmakers are eyeing a production start in the second half of the next year, with shooting spanning approximately six months and a targeted release in late 2025.
As of now, Anurag Basu and T-Series representatives have not officially confirmed these developments.
This development is eagerly awaited by fans of both Kishore Kumar and the talented duo of Ranbir Kapoor and Anurag Basu.