Rohit Shetty, the producer and director best-known for his Hindi comedy and action films, has revealed that his next production venture will be a biopic on one of Mumbai’s most revered top cops, former Commissioner of Police Rakesh Maria.
Shetty has joined hands with Reliance Entertainment for the project. The latter made the announcement on Saturday.
The upcoming biopic will be based on Maria’s career and will be mentored by Shetty himself.
Maria is an IPS officer who cleared his Civil Service Examination in 1981. As Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic), in 1993, he cracked the Bombay serial blasts case, and later went on to become Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime) and then Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime) of Mumbai Police.
Maria solved the 2003 Gateway of India and Zaveri Bazaar twin blasts case. He was also given the responsibility of investigating the 26/11 Mumbai attacks in 2008 and interrogated Ajmal Kasab, the only terrorist captured alive, and successfully investigated the case, as per the biopic makers’ announcement.
After his retirement in 2017, Maria published his book Let Me Say it Now in 2020. It chronicles his entry into the Indian Police Service and rise to the post of Mumbai’s Police Commissioner.
Shetty took to social media and wrote, “From solving the 93 Mumbai blast case, fearlessly facing the Mumbai underworld during the late 90s to interrogating the lone surviving terrorist, Ajmal Kasab, and standing strong for his city during the 26/11 attacks, Rakesh Maria has been a name synonymous with courage and valour!”
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He further added, “Rakesh Maria: The man who stared terror in the face for 36 years! Feel truly honoured to be bringing this real-life super cop’s brave and fearless journey to the screen.”
Maria, meanwhile, said in a statement, “More than the nostalgia, it’s also a valuable opportunity to place before the people the extraordinary work of the Mumbai Police when facing tough challenges and working against all odds.”
Recently, Shetty’s production house Rohit Shetty Picturez announced an upcoming Amazon Prime Video cop drama series titled Indian Police Force, starring Siddharth Malhotra.