Ram Kamal Mukherjee on hema Malini's biopic: ‘Deepika can play the younger role, and Hemaji, her age’

(L-R) Hema Malini and Deepika Padukone at the former’s biography launch. Pics/Rane Ashish, Youtube, Instagram

If a biopic were made on Hema Malini, who would be your pick to portray the Hindi film industry's Dream Girl? Well, the veteran actor has her answer ready. At an event celebrating her 60-year career last week, Malini said that Deepika Padukone would be an apt choice to portray her in a biopic. Talking to mid-day, the actor elaborated on her choice, saying, "Deepika is a pretty girl. I have seen her films. She comes across as someone who has dignity and beauty with poise."

Malini's story - her rise as one of the leading heroines of the 1970s and '80s, her accomplishments as a Bharatanatyam dancer, and her love story with her late husband Dharmendra - serves as fascinating material for a retelling on the screen. If author and filmmaker Ram Kamal Mukherjee has his way, the biopic may be realised. The writer, who penned Malini's authorised biography Beyond the Dream Girl, told mid-day, "While I was writing the book, I had casually mentioned about a biopic on her. She laughed and ignored the topic coyly. But it would be interesting to see Deepika playing the younger role of Hemaji, and Hemaji playing her age in the film. Having two most beautiful faces from Indian cinema would be a treat for the audience."

Ram Kamal Mukherjee

In 2017, Padukone had launched Malini's biography. Mukherjee recalled, "Deepika wrapped the dubbing for Padmaavat [2018] and accepted my invite to launch the biography. If Hemaji feels I am deserving, it would be an honour for me to direct her biopic."

Remember this?

‘Om Shanti Om' (2007) director Farah Khan has often stated that Deepika Padukone's character Shantipriya was inspired by Hema Malini. In fact, her character was referred to as ‘Dreamy Girl', a play on Malini's moniker ‘Dream Girl'

Indian cinema has had several films inspired by female actors, including:

. Smita Patil as Hansa Wadkar in ‘Bhumika'

. Vidya Balan as Silk Smitha in ‘The Dirty Picture'

. Richa Chadha as Shakeela in ‘Shakeela'

. Keerthy Suresh as Savitri in ‘Mahanati'

. Kangana Ranaut as Jayalalithaa in ‘Thalaivii'