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Published 15 Oct, 2014 09:47pm

Malala’s biopic ‘Gul Makai’ slated for April 2015 release

An Indian real estate developer has ventured on a project to produce a biographical film on Pakistani Nobel Peace Prize laureate Malala Yousufzai.

As reported by Times of India, 37 year old realtor Vijay Jaju was so stirred by Malala’s awe-inspiring speech at United Nations last year that he decided to make a film titled on her pseudonym, Gul Makai.

“I was totally awed by Malala’s bravery during her first public speech at the United Nations in July 2013. If a 12-year-old girl can fight the Taliban without a weapon, then her inspiring story needs to be told," Jaju said.

He also added that Malala is “positive” about the film which will be 180 minutes long.

Speaking about the cast, he said that a Bengali actor will be playing the role of Malala followed by Mukesh Rishi, veteran actor Om Puri as General Ashfaq Pervez Kayani and Divya Dutta as her mother. Jaju is also in talks with actor Atul Kulkarni to play Malala’s father.

Directed by Amjad Khan, more than half of the biopic has been shot in Gandhiham and the remaining part will be shot in northern India next month. The film is slated to be released in April 2015.

Gul Makai will be the first ever film project by Jaju.

He said: “By bringing a sensitive topic to the celluloid, we wish to contribute to the [Indian] film industry through a meaningful movie. The film aims to capture Malala's spirit, her fight, and also the reality and suffering of the people of Pakistan. It will feature Malala's life story—her family, friends and education right up to her getting the Nobel Prize."

Jaju further said that the profit from the film will either be donated to the Malala Fund or spent in any way Malala pleases to.

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