Nagraj Manjule to direct a biopic on wrestler and India’s first Olympic medal winner ‘Khashaba Jadhav’
After Jhund (2022), which was a biographical drama starring Amitabh Bachchan, Nagraj Manjule is set to direct another biographical sports drama. Nagraj is set to make a biopic on wrestler Khashaba Dadasaheb Jadhav, the first athlete from an independent India to win an Olympic medal in 1952.
Nagraj will produce the film titled ‘Khashaba’ in collaboration with Jio Studios. Jio Studios made the official announcement about the project on YouTube, where it posted a video revealing a slate of Marathi films and web shows for the next couple of years.
The film is set to be released in theatres in 2024. The remainder of the details regarding the project, including the cast and crew, have been kept under wraps for the time being.
“I have been planning to make this film for the last few years,” Nagraj said at a Jio Studios event. “And thanks to Jyoti Deshpande and Nikhil Sane’s support, we have finally managed to go ahead with this project. We’ve been working on this script for six months, and with everyone’s unwavering support, I’m optimistic that we’ll make a really fantastic film”, Nagraj concluded.
‘Khashaba’ would be Nagraj’s fourth directorial effort, following the Hindi film Jhund (2022), which starred Amitabh Bachchan and a slew of newbie performers and was similarly a biographical sports drama inspired by a real-life individual.
Experience the best of Marathi content with Jio Studios’ largest-ever slate coming up! pic.twitter.com/dDUvVDYusH
— Jio Studios (@jiostudios) April 17, 2023
Interestingly, actor-producer Riteish Deshmukh, who was also present at the occasion, acquired the film’s rights in 2013 from Khashaba Jadhav Vikas Sanstha, a trust created by Ranjit Jadhav, Khashaba Jadhav’s son. But Riteish name is no longer affiliated with the film’s production, implying that he sold the rights to Jio Studios.
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For the unversed, Â Khashaba Dadasaheb Jadhav won the bronze medal on July 23, 1952, defeating wrestlers from Canada, Mexico, and Germany to become Independent India’s first individual medal winner. On August 14, 1984, the national hero’s life ended in anguish when he died in an automobile accident.
Meanwhile, Nagaraj Manjule is currently in the spotlight for his recent film, ‘Ghar Banduk Biryani,’ in which he plays a police inspector. The film, produced by his home production ‘Aatpat Productions,’ also stars Sairat fame Akash Thosar, Sayaji Shinde, and Sayali Patil in significant parts.
