Kurup director Srinath Rajendran to foray into Bollywood with THIS conman’s biopic

After gaining success in Malayalam cinema, Kurup director Srinath Rajendran is set to make his Hindi directorial debut. For the unversed, Srinath began his directorial career in Mollywood with Second Show (2012), which also marked the debut of actor Dulquer Salmaan. He later gained recognition for works such as Mohanlal’s Koothara (2014) and Dulquer Salmaan-starrer Kurup (2021). 

Now, the director is set to foray into Bollywood with an upcoming film inspired by the life of Dhani Ram Mittal, a notorious conman and master forger.  

According to reports, the film is based on the book MoneyRam, co-written by Preeti Aggarwal and Chetan Unniyal. The book delves into the life of Mittal, also known as Junior Natwarlal, whose criminal activities spanned 45 years, from 1969 until his death in April 2024. 

Srinath Rajendran targets a pan-India audience

Sources reveal that the screenplay is currently in development, with shooting scheduled to begin in early 2025. Produced by Insomnia Media and Content Services Limited in collaboration with Pretty Pictures, the film will be shot in Hindi and released in Hindi, Malayalam, and Telugu, aiming to capture a pan-Indian audience. 

Expressing his excitement over his Hindi directorial debut, Srinath shared, "Cinema today transcends borders and languages. I am thrilled to embark on this new journey in Hindi cinema. Dhani Ram Mittal, or MoneyRam, is arguably the most fascinating conman in modern Indian history, and I can’t wait to bring his story to the big screen." 

Interestingly, Srinath’s last film, Kurup, was also based on a real-life conman, Sukumara Kurup, Kerala’s most wanted criminal. 

Also read: Kurup movie review: Dulquer Salmaan cannot redeem this underwhelming action thriller

All about Dhani Ram Mittal

Dhani Ram Mittal's crime spree spanned from 1969 to 2024, beginning with car thefts and escalating to impersonating a judge. A science graduate with a law background, his most notorious act was forging a judge's leave order to release criminals on bail. Later, he forged driving licenses as a clerk in the Haryana transport department. 

With Srinath receiving flak earlier for glorifying Sukumara Kurup's character in Kurup, we may have to wait a little more to see how he will portray this conman’s story on screen. 

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