Maverick actor Aamir Khan is all set to fly into space with his proposed biopic on Indian astronaut Rakesh Sharma. According to news sources, Khan known for his marketing skills and fastidious ways (he releases one film every year) is planning on signing the dotted line. According to reports, UTV honcho Siddharth Roy Kapur approached the methodical Khan for the astronaut’s role. The film slated to go on the floors in 2018 will be produced under Kapur’s newly minted production house Roy Kapur Films and will be directed by Mahesh Mathai. Just like Dangal, Aamir Khan Rakesh Sharma biopic has given the 51-year-old actor’s fans something to look forward to with bated breath.
The film, tentatively titled Saare Jahan Se Achcha is inspired by the words spoken by Sharma during his famed exchange with Indira Gandhi in 1984. When asked by the then PM how India looked from space, Sharma recounted poet poet Mohammed Iqbal famous lines, Saare Jahan Se Achcha. The title is also a nod to the independence song written by legendary poet Mohammed Iqbal during India’s Independence struggle.
Sharma, an Indian Air Force pilot was selected to fly into space in a joint programme between Indian Space Research Organisation and the Soviet Interkosmos space program in September 1982. He was selected to travel as a cosmonaut. Sharma, a test pilot had already proven his mettle in war operations. In 1984, he went into space aboard a Soyuz T-11 space shuttle and spent 21 hours and 40 minutes in outer space.
On his return, Sharma was awarded the Hero of Soviet Union and felicitated with an Ashok Chakra by the Indian government as well. During his time in outer space, Sharma and the crew members had a TV news conference with PM Indira Gandhi and Moscow officials.
The former Interkosmos program was aimed at assisting Soviet allies in manned and unmanned space missions. The eastern bloc’s space program helped non-aligned nation such as Indian and Syria as well. We can’t wait to watch how the Aamir Khan Rakesh Sharma biopic will pan out.
