Real to reel - 5 Bollywood biopics that could change the face of Indian cinema

Bollywood often works in phases. When one formula strikes gold, they try to make the most of it and milk it to the maximum extent possible. In a lot of ways, 2017 is a year of biopics. We have already seen films like Sachin: A Million Dreams and Daddy hit screens this year. However, Bollywood is far from done as far as biopics are concerned. Here are some of the biopics to look forward to this year.

1) Sanjay Dutt biopic:

Arguably the most highly awaited movie of this year, Ranbir Kapoor plays Sanjay Dutt in this film. The anticipation is much higher considering it's being directed by Munnabhai director Rajkumar Hirani, who hasn't put a single foot wrong so far in his career as a filmmaker.  There's tremendous curiosity whether Ranbir will be able to pull off a character as complex as Dutt. We also have to wait and watch whether the film will touch upon some of the most controversial moments in Dutt's life.  

2) Haseena Parkar:  

Based on the life terrorist Dawood Ibrahim's sister, this film features Shraddha Kapoor as Haseena Parkar This is the first time Shraddha has taken on a role this challenging and it remains to be seen if she has the mettle to pull it off. Apoorva Lakhia, who helmed Shootout At Lokhandwala (also a gangster flick) will be directing this film. Shraddha's real brother, Siddhanth Kapoor portrays the role of Dawood Ibrahim, and Ankur Bhatia plays the role of Haseena's husband.

3) The Accidental Prime Minister:

This is a film we're all waiting for as it showcases one of India's most significant political regime. Based on the book (with the same title) written by Sanjay Baru, the film will be based on former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. Veteran actor Anupam Kher will be portraying Manmohan Singh in the film lending even more gravitas to the character and has enhanced the viewer's expectation. The film is written and co-produced by Hansal Mehta. 

4) Manikarnika:

Kangana Ranaut is back as a Queen once again. This time, she plays the role of Rani Laxmibai in what seems like a highly promising biopic. Interestingly, this film is being directed by Telugu filmmaker Krish Jagarlamudi, who are venturing into Bollywood for the first time in his career. Kangana will play the role of the fiesty queen in the film, which also stars Sonu Sood in an important role. 

5) Mogul:

Akshay Kumar who recently turned 50, will be essaying the role of T-Series founder Gulshan Kumar, who changed the face of the music industry in the late 1980s and early 1990s. The film traces the journey of the music mogul and showcases his rags-to-riches story — coming from nothing to becoming one of the most successful people in the film industry until he was shot dead by the underworld in 1997. The film is directed by Subhash Chandra, who also directed Akshay in Jolly LLB 2.