OPINION: Aamir-Hirani vs Rajamouli-NTR: Analysing Who Wins The Race For Dadasaheb Phalke Biopic

It doesn’t happen all the time. Well, scratch that. It happens a lot. Bollywood has a curious habit of collective epiphany, where two or more creative camps suddenly announce strikingly similar films. Be it serendipity or sheer cinematic zeitgeist, the Indian film industry often finds itself caught in a déjà vu spiral. From Bhagat Singh biopics to Ramayan adaptations, we’ve witnessed a parade of parallel projects. Sometimes, one triumphs while the other fades into oblivion. Occasionally, both flop spectacularly. And in rare, shimmering instances, both emerge victorious.

But what remains an anomaly is the scenario unfolding now, where not just any filmmakers but legendary duos are attached to the same biopic subject. Yes, we’re talking about Rajkumar Hirani and Aamir Khan, arguably one of Indian cinema’s most bankable and beloved creative pairings, reportedly gearing up to reunite for a film chronicling the life of Dadasaheb Phalke. On the other side is the long-gestating announcement from none other than S. S. Rajamouli, with Jr. NTR expected to headline a cinematic tribute to the same titan of Indian cinema.

Let’s take a quick detour into the timeline. In 2023, SS Rajamouli pulled the curtain off Made in India, a film that promises to trace the birth and rise of Indian cinema. With Varun Gupta of Max Studios and Karthikeya from Showing Business producing, early reports confirmed that the script was narrated to Jr. NTR, who enthusiastically greenlit the idea. A saga like this, steeped in cinematic history and national identity, seemed tailored for Rajamouli’s signature grandeur.

For Rajamouli's 'Made in India' to gain traction anytime soon, one would have to imagine a scenario where Rajamouli delegates the writing to others and jumps in only during the latter stages of pre-production. Even then, the runway before liftoff seems quite long.

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Not long after, the industry grapevine rustled with murmurs that Aamir Khan and Rajkumar Hirani were planning a reunion. Not for a sequel, but for a full-fledged biopic on Dadasaheb Phalke. The proposed narrative, as per early buzz, is to be layered against the backdrop of India’s independence movement, positioning Phalke not just as the pioneer of Indian filmmaking but also as a cultural architect of a nation in flux.

And now we arrive at the messy, delicious realm of timelines and real-world feasibility. On one hand, we have Rajamouli and Jr. NTR, both caught in whirlwinds of commitments. Rajamouli is known for his painstaking, years-long dedication to a single film. From pre-production to post-release buzz, the process is nothing short of Herculean. Jr. NTR, meanwhile, is also booked solid with big-budget ventures. For Made in India to gain traction anytime soon, one would have to imagine a scenario where Rajamouli delegates the writing to others and jumps in only during the latter stages of pre-production. Even then, the runway before liftoff seems quite long.

On the other side of the ring, we have Aamir Khan and Rajkumar Hirani, fascinatingly mysterious at the moment. While both have murmurs of upcoming work, nothing is confirmed with the same conviction as this possible biopic. Khan’s Sitaare Zameen Par is slated for a June 20, 2025 release. Apart from a potential cameo in Rajinikanth’s Coolie, his acting calendar seems surprisingly light. Hirani, fresh off Dunki, is reportedly dabbling with several ideas but hasn’t committed to anything publicly. That said, their creative synergy, evident in 3 Idiots and PK, makes this reunion feel more tangible than speculative.

So, from a purely pragmatic lens, the Khan-Hirani project seems more likely to begin rolling before Made in India even reaches a narration table again. If that happens, will Rajamouli and Jr. NTR back out? Probably not. But it wouldn’t be the first time when timelines and overlapping themes force creative teams to re-evaluate.

Of course, there’s a twist in the tale. Hirani is notorious in the most endearing way for his meticulous, slow-burning script development. And Khan, ever the perfectionist, won’t give his nod unless the screenplay hits every emotional and intellectual beat. So while they may appear to be ahead in the race, the finish line might still be a while away.

Ultimately, whether it’s Aamir and Hirani or Rajamouli and NTR, crafting a biopic that truly encapsulates the vision, passion, and groundbreaking genius of Dadasaheb Phalke is no small feat. The pressure isn’t just to make a good film, but to make a definitive one.

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Ultimately, whether it’s Aamir and Hirani or Rajamouli and NTR, crafting a biopic that truly encapsulates the vision, passion, and groundbreaking genius of Dadasaheb Phalke is no small feat. The pressure isn’t just to make a good film, but to make a definitive one. This isn’t just history. It’s the origin story of an entire industry.

Who blinks first? Who shoots first? And more importantly, who does justice to the towering legacy of the man who gave India its first feature film? One thing is certain. Whichever team emerges from the development fog first will have set the tone for what could be a landmark moment in Indian biographical cinema.

So, who do you think should mount this cinematic giant? Will it be the dependable emotional resonance of Aamir and Hirani? Or the breathtaking visual world-building of Rajamouli with NTR at the helm? Let us know in the comments below because the race to honour Phalke is officially on.

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