Siddhant Chaturvedi To Play Legendary Filmmaker V Shantaram In His Biopic; Read More

Siddhant Chaturvedi, who burst onto the scene with his breakthrough performance in Gully Boy (2019), continues to rise as one of Bollywood’s most promising young actors.

After earning praise for his intense and layered portrayal in Dhadak 2 (2025), the actor has reportedly signed another ambitious project, this time a biopic.

© Instagram/Siddhant Chaturvedi

According to Bollywood Hungama, Siddhant is set to headline Chitrapati V Shantaram, a film based on the life and legacy of the legendary filmmaker, actor, producer, and writer V. Shantaram. Known as one of Indian cinema’s greatest visionaries, V. Shantaram was a pioneer who shaped the early years of Bollywood through classics like Do Aankhen Barah Haath, Jhanak Jhanak Payal Baaje and Dr. Kotnis Ki Amar Kahani.

A source told Bollywood Hungama, “This will be Siddhant’s biggest film to date and also his most ambitious one. With his past work, he has made it clear that he has oodles of talent. This motivated the makers of Chitrapati V Shantaram to sign him for the lead role. The film is in pre-production right now and Siddhant is working very hard to get into the character.”

© Instagram/Siddhant Chaturvedi

The source added, “V Shantaram’s contribution to the Indian film industry is immense and with this film, the younger generation will learn about it. Chitrapati V Shantaram will throw light on how this man, born in abject poverty in Kolhapur, learned filmmaking under Baburao Painter in Pune, and then left an unforgettable mark in the Hindi film industry with movies like Jhanak Jhanak Payal Baaje (1955), Do Aankhen Barah Haath (1957), etc. This film will also educate viewers that he was a trendsetter - he was the first one to cast women, the first one to sell film music rights and the first filmmaker to attempt a colour film. His films, made at Prabhat Studios, won praise at Cannes, Venice and Berlin Film Festivals and was also honoured with a Golden Globe in the year 1959. Not many are aware that Charlie Chaplin had praised V Shantaram's work and also about his rivalry with Bombay's (present-day Mumbai) elite filmmakers. Hence, the biopic will not just be enlightening but also entertaining and dramatic.”

Siddhant Chaturvedi was last seen in Dhadak 2 opposite Triptii Dimri, a romantic movie backed by Karan Johar.