Bollywood actor Richa Chadha’s forthcoming venture is certainly one of the most awaited biopics. The film titled Shakeela is based on the real life story of a 1990s adult film star, who goes by the same name.
On 31 October, the Fukrey actress took to Instagram and shared the first look of the film. “Presenting the first look of #Shakeela!” Richa Chadha wrote.
Presenting the first look of #Shakeela! @indrajitlankesh @ShakeelaFilm
A post shared by Richa Chadha (@therichachadha) on
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Currently, the cast and crew shooting the final schedule of the film in Bengaluru have now unveiled the logo of the film, along with a tagline — Not A Porn Star — that’s both undaunted and unabashed. Steering away from the stereotypical image that Shakeela has in the minds of people of being a soft porn actor, the film challenges the audiences and is set to give them the depth story of the woman behind the phenomenon of an unlikely superstar.
Shakeela started off with small roles and turned into a massive superstar. Her career at a point was so envious that male superstars of the era would fear of their films releasing alongside hers. One of the first Indian actors whose films were dubbed in 16 international languages, Shakeela was the ideal rags-to-riches story with a twist of having lost it all to be back to square one.
Speaking of the inspiration behind the film, director Indrajit Lankesh said, “I was unaware of Shakeela until I worked with her for a film in 2003 and instantly I was pulled to her story and wanted to make a film on her. We always see rags to riches stories but this is a rags to riches to rags story of a woman who has to seek peaks of luxury and then lost it all and to see how and what happened is what really sparks great interest.”
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Richa Chadha, who decided to play the role after meeting Shakeela in real life, confessed what made her say yes to it. “When I was offered this role I was very apprehensive but then I met Shakeela And I saw her gutsy attitude and it became easy. She had forgiven everyone who had done ill to her in her life and she has moved on and is in solace living a minimal life. Even today when she works, she commands great respect and that’s the story we wish to bring forth,” she said.