100th anniversary special: Shah Rukh Khan expressed desire to play Guru Dutt: "My face is like a beautiful poem in B&W"; son Arun Dutt approached Aamir Khan to play the lead in biopic; script was written by Anurag Kashyap

The 100th birth anniversary of one of the greatest film personalities ever, Guru Dutt, is celebrated on July 9. He died at the age of just 38 but the contribution he made to cinema has been unforgettable. No wonder that 60 years after his passing, he continues to be talked about and remembered. That’s not all. The biggest of our stars wants to play his role if a biopic on Guru Dutt is made.

On March 22, 2016, a journalist made a tweet that the Guru Dutt and Geeta Dutt story is “ripe for a sensitive biopic made by say Imtiaz Ali or Mani Ratnam”. He added, “And no one other than @iamsrk to play guru dutt. To portray anger, romance, devastation.”

Shah Rukh Khan replied to this tweet, “Absolutely. I should do it. And as u lovingly say my friend my face is like a beautiful poem…in black & white.”

Absolutely. I should do it. And as u lovingly say my friend my face is like a beautiful poem…in black & white. https://t.co/dQf7SgWwZt — Shah Rukh Khan (@iamsrk) March 22, 2016

Less than a year later, during the promotions of his January 2017 release Raees, there were reports of SRK playing Sahir Ludhianvi in a biopic to be made by Sanjay Leela Bhansali. As per reports then, the film was to be called Gustakhiyan. Shah Rukh never commented on it but while speaking to Hindustan Times, he was asked, “You’ve never done a biopic. If you did, who would you like to play?.” He replied, “I’d love to essay Guru Dutt saab’s life”.

Aamir Khan in and as Guru Dutt – the shelved project and a hit magazine cover

On the other hand, fellow superstar Aamir Khan got a golden opportunity to be Guru Dutt, albeit for a photoshoot. He along with Katrina Kaif recreated the iconic Pyaasa (1957) pose of Guru Dutt and Waheeda Rehman. It led to rumours that both actors are remaking the classic tragic saga. But soon, it came to light that the photoshoot was conducted as part of CineBlitz Gold's coffee-table book named Love & Longing in Hindi Cinema, published to celebrate the 35th anniversary of the magazine.

At the event, Aamir Khan said, “I looked at the photograph (of Pyaasa) very closely and I tried to be in that headspace of the photograph and understand what I could feel from watching Guru Dutt ji in that moment.”

Karan Johar, who was present at the event stated, “Aamir portrays Guru Dutt so effortlessly. When I saw the image, I didn’t know it was a part of (a) book. I thought they were coming up with a film on the life of Guru Dutt, which I think is a brilliant idea!”

He added, “This is a superb shot, very reminiscent of (Guru Dutt), who I believe was the king of romance in Indian cinema. Every bit of Chaudhvin Ka Chand (1960), every frame of Pyaasa and every poignancy of Kaagaz Ke Phool (1959) resonates romance. So, I think this is a befitting portrayal of romance.”

V K Murthy, who worked as chief cinematographer on 8 of Guru Dutt’s films, said in a 2010 interview to Hindustan Times that only Aamir Khan can do justice to the role of Guru Dutt in his biopic. He remarked, “I don't get impressed by actors easily but Aamir is in a different league. Lagaan (2001) and Taare Zameen Par (2007) are classics of Indian cinema. Aamir does not follow the Bollywood formula and is very passionate about his work. He reminds me of Guru Dutt…I was very close to Guru Dutt and he was a man of depth. Only a perfectionist like Aamir can do justice to him.”

The project almost got made. Anurag Kashyap had written a script on Guru Dutt’s life and it was to be directed by Shivendra Singh Dungarpur, who now handles Film Heritage Foundation and restores old classics. The project also had the backing of Guru Dutt’s family. At one point, Guru Dutt’s Arun Dutt confessed that Aamir was approached and that he had asked for a script. Sadly, for unknown reasons, the project was shelved.

Interestingly, Aamir was close to Guru Dutt's sister Lalita Lajmi, who was also filmmaker Kalpana Lajmi's mother. Lalita had even made an appearance in Aamir's Taare Zameen Par (2007) in the climax. Kalpana also planned a Guru Dutt biopic and she backed out of it when she heard of the Shivendra Singh Dungarpur project.

Kalpana Lajmi said, “My mother told me that Anurag Kashyap is scripting and Shivendra Singh is directing the film. They've informed my mother that it won't be fictional but a biopic on my uncle. My uncle's only living heir Arun Dutt has also given his nod to the project. So, we're all for it.”

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