Mahesh Manjrekar on quitting Savarkar biopic: Randeep Hooda's obsession...

Actor Randeep Hooda is set to make his directorial debut with the upcoming film 'Swatantrya Veer Savarkar'. However, for a significant portion of the film's production, director Mahesh Majrekar was in charge. In May 2021, Mahesh was announced as the director, but by September 2022, he officially parted ways with the project. In a recent interview, Mahesh opened up about his reasons for backing out of the film.

MAHESH MANJREKAR ON LEAVING SAVARKAR BIOPIC

Mahesh Manjrekar recently opened up about why he left 'Swatantrya Veer Savarkar'. According to Mahesh, he felt hurt as it appeared that Randeep had intended to gradually sideline him from the project. The actor-director told Bollywood Hungama, "I met Randeep and I saw that he’s quite sincere and was involved with the subject. We had a couple of meetings. He read several books related to the freedom struggle, World Wars etc. I found it quite interesting. The first draft was read out to him. He had a few issues and that was okay. Then, even during the second draft, he had (some objections). I told him, ‘If this is what’s going to happen, there will be a problem in the film’. He assured me that once the script is locked, he won’t question anything."

Mahesh added, "Randeep continued to have problems. This is when he and I headed to Aamby Valley (near Lonavala, Maharashtra). We sat there and discussed (extensively). I was very happy that the script was finally locked. However, again, a few issues cropped up. He wanted to incorporate Hitler, the King of England, the Prime Minister of England, etc. He wanted to incorporate Lokmanya Tilak’s ‘Swaraj is my birthright and I’ll get it’ episode. I wondered how all this matters to Savarkar’s biopic. But he remained adamant. Because he had read too many things; his reading now became a liability.”

Mahesh Manjrekar then raised objections to Randeep Hooda claiming ‘I have been to death and back for this film’: "Who told you to lose so much weight? Tomorrow, if he has to play a dead man, will he be dead? What rubbish is this? It’s okay if you lose weight. That’s your preparation. But don’t claim that he could have died. Nobody forced you to do it.”

"He wanted to incorporate a scene of Bhagat Singh with Savarkar. I was appalled. Where did this happen? He also wanted to incorporate prisoners from the 1857 mutiny in Andaman Jail. I asked, ‘How can we show that?’. He insisted that we could and that they must have been 90 years old (when Savarkar was imprisoned in the same jail).”

Mahesh said, “I gave 100 out of 100 to Randeep’s sincerity. But his obsession killed the film for me. For all you know, he might have made a brilliant film.”

RANDEEP HOODA CLAIMS OWNERSHIP OF 'SWATANTRYA VEER SAVARKAR'

'Swatantrya Veer Savarkar' is now facing legal issues as director-actor Randeep Hooda and producer Sandeep Singh have both claimed ownership over the copyrights of the story.

Randeep Hooda Productions has issued a press statement claiming complete ownership of the copyrights to the film. The statement, issued by Karan Halai of M/s Halai and Co Advocates and Legal Consultants, on behalf of Randeep, says that he produced, directed, and completed the film ‘despite all odds by facing various challenges coming his way including financial, mental, and physical’.

'Swatantrya Veer Savarkar' is scheduled to hit the big screen this year.