Nagaraj Goud
While it might be two-and-a-half months away from hitting the floors, the makers of Pullela Gopichand biopic are getting a team in place for the film. Sources close to the project, which will trace the journey of Gopi as a player and as a coach, inform us that the team is interviewing people for positions in cinematography and production design. Also, they are planning to hire the services of noted Bollywood casting director Mukesh Chabbra to get suitable faces. “Since it’s a massive undertaking, the makers don’t want to put a foot wrong as far as bringing in genuineness to it and so are in deliberations with Chhabra who has to his credit films like ‘Dangal’, ‘Rockstar’ and ‘Haider’ among others,” said a source.
The source added, “The makers are also in talks with ‘Neerja’ writer Sanyuktha Chawla Shaikh to pen Hindi version dialogues.”
In the film, Sudheer Babu, a former professional badminton player himself, will be playing Gopichand and he will begin prep soon. Speaking to us recently, he had said, “I will be playing some real tournaments and see how far I can go. Director Praveen Sattaru is keen on capturing these matches to bring authenticity to the film. The losses won’t be a problem.”
To be shot across China, Japan, Ireland, Scotland, and India, the untitled film, a joint venture between Fox Star Studios and Abundantia Entertainment, will be made in Hindi and Telugu simultaneously.
