Renowned fashion designer Manish Malhotra has announced that he will no longer direct the much-anticipated biopic on legendary actress Meena Kumari. Malhotra, a prominent name in Bollywood’s fashion scene, had surprised many by venturing into filmmaking. However, in a recent interview with Mid-Day, he clarified his decision to shelve the project and expressed his determination to pursue a different directorial venture.
“I’m no longer doing the biopic. I’ll direct something else. Directing is one dream that remains unfulfilled,” Malhotra said, while elaborating on his lifelong passion for films. The designer shared that watching classics like Mughal-e-Azam and the works of Raj Kapoor and Guru Dutt during his childhood deeply influenced him.
The biopic, delayed multiple times since 2023, had Do Patti star Kriti Sanon reportedly finalized to portray the iconic actress known as the “Tragedy Queen” of Hindi cinema. The project aimed to meticulously recreate the costumes and sets from Meena Kumari’s films of the 1960s and 1970s.
Interestingly, the idea for the biopic originated from Bilal Amrohi, grandson of Meena Kumari’s husband, Kamal Amrohi, in collaboration with a production house. However, no further updates have been shared.
Meanwhile, Malhotra continues to make strides in film production. His recent project, Saali Mohabbat, starring Tisca Chopra, Radhika Apte, and Anurag Kashyap, premiered at the International Film Festival of India (IFFI), showcasing his commitment to storytelling beyond fashion.