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- By Aarushi Raina
- Wed, 28 May 2025 06:32 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
The announcement of Dhanush headlining the biopic of the 11th President of India, Dr APJ Abdul Kalam, has created a buzz among fans. Kalam The Missile Man of India is being directed by Om Raut. He recently made the announcement during his appearance at the Cannes Film Festival. The collaboration between the actor and director has raised concerns among netizens. The movie will bring the inspiring life story of APJ Abdul Kalam to the screen, from his birth in Rameswaram to his journey to Rashtrapati Bhavan. Recently, Raut revealed the reason behind casting Dhanush for this role in his upcoming directorial.
Om Raut, known for directing historical dramas such as Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior, Lokmanya, and Adipurush, talked about his upcoming biopic movie.
He said in a statement, "When portraying Dr APJ Abdul Kalam, it’s essential to capture not just his achievements, but also his spiritual journey and teachings. That’s the most challenging part of a biopic like this. And I don’t think there could have been a better choice than Dhanush to bring this spiritual and intellectual depth to life on screen."
The filmmaker thanked Dhanush for being part of his venture. "He is the perfect fit, and on behalf of my entire team, I thank him for choosing to be a part of this important project," Raut stated.
Revealing what inspired him to make a biopic on Kalam, he said, "The teachings of Dr Kalam are instilled in every youth. I read his book 'Wings of Fire' when I was in college, and I can say that everything I am doing today, and everything I aspire to be, is inspired by the teachings in that book. It changed my perspective on life and that is exactly why I am standing here today. I've always been deeply inspired by Dr. Kalam’s journey."
Raut also shared how he always wanted to make a film based on Dr Kalam's principles.
He continued, "From what I’ve observed, his life was anchored in three key aspects. First is education. He was a great teacher who placed immense value on quality learning. Second is innovation, particularly indigenous innovation. He encouraged us to develop within our country. And the third is resilience, the willpower to stay committed to our purpose. I always wanted to make a film based on these principles."
What a coincidence that producer Abhishek Agarwal came up with the same idea. Raut added, "By God’s grace, producer Abhishek Agarwal approached me with the same idea. When he asked if I’d be interested, I told him I was already working on something similar. He flew from Hyderabad to Mumbai, and we discussed it in detail. Eventually, T-Series and Bhushan Kumar, with whom I have worked on two previous films, came on board for this as well. This marks our third collaboration, and we’re moving ahead with full force."
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Om Raut is helming the movie with the screenplay written by Saiwyn Quadras, who is known for some masterpieces like Neerja, Maidaan and others. This project is backed by Abhishek Agarwal and Bhushan Kumar.
