Bollywood Biopics: Biographical films have become an important part of Indian cinema, with filmmakers increasingly looking at the lives of personalities from sports, science, law, entertainment and public service.
The upcoming slate includes projects based on figures as diverse as former Indian cricket captain Sourav Ganguly, former Mumbai Police Commissioner Rakesh Maria and former President and scientist Dr APJ Abdul Kalam. Several of these films have already announced their lead actors, while some are still in development.
The trend reflects the industry's continued interest in turning extraordinary real-life journeys into cinematic narratives.
Sourav Ganguly Biopic: Rajkummar Rao To Play ‘Dada’
One of the most discussed upcoming sports biopics is Dada – The Sourav Ganguly Story, based on the life and career of former Indian cricket captain Sourav Ganguly.
Rajkummar Rao will portray Ganguly in the film, which is directed by Vikramaditya Motwane and produced by Luv Ranjan and Ankur Garg. The film is scheduled for a worldwide theatrical release on May 14, 2027.
The first look of Rajkummar Rao as Ganguly recreated one of Indian cricket's most recognisable images — Ganguly celebrating India's 2002 NatWest Trophy victory from the Lord's balcony with his shirt off.
Ganguly himself reacted positively to the first look, calling it “the best gift ever” and saying he was looking forward to seeing Rajkummar portray him on screen.
What Will Sourav Ganguly’s Biopic Show?
The film is expected to trace Ganguly's journey from his early days in Bengal cricket to his rise as one of India's most prominent captains.
His leadership period included several memorable moments in Indian cricket, while his aggressive personality and competitive approach made him one of the most recognisable captains of his generation.
The film will also reportedly explore Ganguly's personal life, including his relationship with wife Dona Ganguly. Tanya Maniktala has been cast as Dona, while Bengali actors including Aparajita Adhya and Saswata Chatterjee are part of the supporting cast.
Rakesh Maria Biopic: John Abraham To Play The Former Police Commissioner
Another high-profile project is the biopic based on former Mumbai Police Commissioner Rakesh Maria.
The film, reportedly titled Maria IPS, is being directed by Rohit Shetty, with John Abraham in the lead role. The project is based on Maria's career in the Indian Police Service and his involvement in several major investigations.
Maria's career included investigations connected with the 1993 Mumbai blasts, the 2003 Mumbai twin blasts and the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks. His professional journey has therefore provided filmmakers with several major real-life events that could form the backbone of the film.
The release date and final title have not been firmly confirmed in the reports currently available.
Rakesh Maria’s Story Has Already Been Seen On Screen
Interestingly, Rakesh Maria has already been portrayed in cinema.
Kay Kay Menon played a character based on Maria in Anurag Kashyap's Black Friday, which dealt with the investigation surrounding the 1993 Mumbai bomb blasts. John Abraham's upcoming portrayal would therefore bring another cinematic interpretation of the former police officer's career.
The new project, however, is expected to focus more directly on Maria's own life and professional journey.
APJ Abdul Kalam Biopic: Dhanush To Play The Missile Man Of India
Another major biographical project is Kalam, based on the life of Dr APJ Abdul Kalam.
Tamil star Dhanush has been cast as the former President and renowned scientist. The film is directed by Om Raut, while Saiwyn Quadras is credited as the writer. A.R. Rahman is attached to the project as composer.
The story is expected to cover Kalam's journey from his childhood in Rameswaram to his work as a scientist, his association with India's missile and nuclear programmes and eventually his tenure as the country's President.
The film does not yet have a confirmed theatrical release date, although it is listed as a 2026 project.
Why Dhanush’s Kalam Role Has Created Curiosity
Dr APJ Abdul Kalam remains one of India's most widely recognised scientists and public figures, making his life particularly challenging to adapt for cinema.
The project has attracted attention because Dhanush will be portraying a personality known not only for his scientific achievements but also for his simple lifestyle, communication with young people and public service.
According to available project details, the film will also feature Kalam's role in India's strategic scientific programmes, including a sequence connected with the Pokhran nuclear tests.
V. Shantaram Biopic Also In The Line-Up
The current biopic wave is not restricted to sports and public service.
V. Shantaram is another upcoming project based on the life of legendary filmmaker V. Shantaram. Siddhant Chaturvedi will portray the pioneering filmmaker, while Tamannaah Bhatia is set to play actress Jayashree.
Directed by Abhijeet Shirish Deshpande, the film is scheduled for release on November 18, 2026, according to recent reports.
The project is expected to explore Shantaram's contribution to Indian cinema as well as his work as a filmmaker and social commentator.
Other Biopics Adding To The Line-Up
The upcoming slate also includes several other biographical projects.
Prahaar: The Ujjwal Nikam Story stars Rajkummar Rao as special public prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam and focuses on his professional journey and major legal battles, including the prosecution of Ajmal Kasab.
Meanwhile, Shraddha Kapoor stars in Eetha, based on the life of legendary Maharashtrian Lavani and Tamasha performer Vithabai Narayangaonkar. The film is directed by Laxman Utekar.
Another project, GDN, features R. Madhavan in the role of Indian inventor and engineer G.D. Naidu, adding another science-and-invention story to the growing list of biographical films.
From Cricket To Science, Bollywood Is Exploring Diverse Lives
The current biopic line-up covers a remarkably broad range of subjects.
Sourav Ganguly's story represents Indian cricket and leadership, Rakesh Maria's film explores policing and major investigations, while Kalam focuses on science, public service and India's technological journey.
Similarly, the Ujjwal Nikam film brings the legal world to the screen, while V. Shantaram and Eetha explore cinema and traditional performing arts.
This variety suggests that filmmakers are increasingly looking beyond conventional celebrity biographies and exploring personalities whose professional journeys intersect with larger social, cultural or historical events.
What To Expect From The Upcoming Biopics
With Rajkummar Rao, John Abraham, Dhanush, Siddhant Chaturvedi, Shraddha Kapoor and other established actors stepping into real-life roles, the upcoming period could bring several different approaches to biographical storytelling.
For audiences, the biggest curiosity will be how filmmakers balance factual events with cinematic storytelling. Each of these personalities has an established public image, meaning the actors and filmmakers will have to recreate familiar moments while building narratives suitable for a feature film.
Among the projects currently in the pipeline, Dada – The Sourav Ganguly Story already has a confirmed May 14, 2027 release date, while the release timelines of several other projects remain subject to further announcements.
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