25 June,2026 08:06 AM IST | Mumbai | Mohar Basu
Kiara Advani
Imagine Meena Kumari's life story being told in her own words. That's what filmmaker Siddharth P Malhotra is promising with the late cinema icon's biopic, reportedly titled Kamal Aur Meena, which was announced in 2025. Talking to mid-day, the director revealed that the scripting of his long-awaited biopic is complete, and it has been built from an archive of personal letters and diary entries left behind by the actor and her filmmaker-husband Kamal Amrohi.
"Luckily, we have their handwritten love letters and diaries. So, our film is based on their 2000 letters and diary notes. In a way, they have told us what to write, in their own words," said the director.
Kamal Aur Meena is said to explore the tragic relationship between Kumari and Amrohi, with a strong focus being on their movie Pakeezah (1972). Bhavani Iyer and Kausar Munir have scripted the love story. Malhotra shared, "We have finished the scripting and are working towards the casting. The project will hopefully roll by the year-end."
There has been a lot of buzz around the casting, with rumours repeatedly suggesting that Kiara Advani may portray the late actor. So, what's the final word? No actor has been finalised, maintained the director, adding, "Till it's not locked, it's not locked. It's [how] the business is. It's not only the actor; it's the overall cost of the thing [that is a determinant]."
Siddharth P Malhotra's upcoming release is âIkka'. The Sunny Deol and Akshaye Khanna-starrer is set to stream on Netflix from July 10
Fashion designer-turned-producer Manish Malhotra too had announced a biopic on Meena Kumari, with Kriti Sanon in the lead. However, it was subsequently shelved
