It's biopic time in Bollywood

 Bollywood does not venture much into the territory of biopics but the success of movies like ''Chak De India'' and ''The Dirty Picture'' is inspiring filmmakers to bring interesting life-stories on the big screen.

Vidya Balan's dare-bare act as 70s Southern sex symbol Silk Smitha in the Milan Lutheria film not only earned her critical acclaim but also made hay at the box office.
The actress put on weight to bring into focus the forgotten story of the dancing star, who died in suspicious circumstances.

Filmmakers are often reluctant to explore the territory of biopics because of the possibility of controversies regarding accuracy, family objection and so on. But the amalgamation of fact and fiction in films have found a new liking with the audience in recent times.

Director Anurag Basu is making a biopic on Kishore Kumar and has roped in "Rockstar" fame Ranbir Kapoor to bring alive the colourful life of the yesteryear singer-actor on screen.

Basu has said that he wants to cover every aspect of Kishore Kumar's life, his four marriages including one to Madhubala.

"Bhaag Milkha Bhaag" to be produced and directed by Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra is based on the life of legendary Indian athlete Milkha Singh.

Earlier, Mehra had successfully linked the freedom struggle of Bhagat Singh and Chandrashekhar Azad to modern times in "Rang De Basanti".

Actor-turned-director Farhan Akhtar is essaying the iconic role of the legendary athlete and he says he is very fortunate to play the role of the 'Flying Sikh'. Farhan is leaving no stone unturned to get into shape for the demanding role in the film, which will hit theatres later this year.

"I am fortunate enough to play an iconic person (Milkha) on screen. I will be forcing him to accept that I am playing his role. I think that will be enough. I have started running regularly," Farhan had said.

"Paan Singh Tomar" directed by Tigmanshu Dhulia, is another biopic that is waiting its release. Based on the true story of a runner who turned into a rebel, the film sees Irrfan Khan playing the lead character. It will release on March 9.

The movie tells the story of Paan Singh Tomar from a small town of Madhya Pradesh, who joins the Bengal Engineers to escape poverty. Tomar becomes a runner and wins the steeplechase event at the Indian National Games for seven years in a row.

Later, he gives up running and his post as a subedar in the Army and goes on to become a dacoit who wreaks havoc in the Chambal Valley.

Mani Ratnam's 2007 film "Guru" was loosely based on the life of Dhirubhai Ambani, which turned out to be a celluloid magic. The film starring Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai applauded the protagonist's energy, go-getting skills and vision.

Shah Rukh Khan left his romantic image behind to play a disgraced former hockey player, who coaches an underdog women's hockey team to victory in "Chak De India". It was inspired by the life of Indian hockey player Mir Ranjan Negi.Directors have tried making biopics of historical figures. Ketan Mehta's "Mangal Pandey" about the man who sparked off the revolt of 1857 and his yet to release "Rang Rasiya", about the life and times of artist Raja Ravi Varma, are fitting example of biopics.

Freedom fighter Bhagat Singh and father of the nation Mahatma Gandhi are the two figures, who have been the subject of biopics a number of times.

Shyam Benegal also told the tale of Netaji Subhash Bose's life "Bose: The Forgotten Hero" in an epic manner.

Feroz Abbas Khan adapted his successful play Mahatma Vs Gandhi into "Gandhi My Father", which explores Mahatma's troubled relationship with his eldest son, Harilal.
The young crop of directors, however, seem more interested in depicting contemporary people be it gangsters in "Zilla Ghaziabad", a murder victim in "No One Killed Jessica" or a Delhi thief in "Oye Lucky Lucky Oye!".