The bio-pic on Olympian hockey champ Gyan Chand which is to be produced by Ronnie Screwvala and Rohit Vaid is likely to have Shah Rukh Khan playing the legendary player.
The project, almost ten years on the anvil, was always planned with Shah Rukh. But since he had done another hockey film Chak De Shah Rukh was hesitant to re-visit that space. But now after so many years this seems like the right time to get Shah Rukh back on board.
It’s been 8 years since Ashok Dhyanchand, son of hockey legend Gyan Chand sold the movie rights of his father’s life to producers Pooja Shetty and Aarti Shetty.Nothing happened. There was some discussion with Shah Rukh Khan . But the matter was dropped.Then the project went to Karan Johar.He loved the idea and agreed to co-produce the film. Karan approached Ranbir Kapoor to play Dhyanchand. Ranbir for reasons best known to him,declined the offer.Karan then took the project to his other favourite Varun Dhawan who was very very keen on playing the hockey legend.He even made his father David Dhawan hear the story.Karan Johar then approached Fox Star Studios who are very keen to get on board.
There was only one hitch. A very major hitch.Apparently Karan Johar , Varun Dhawan and Fox-Star did not want the film to be directed by debutante director Rohit Jaisingh Vaid .It was Rohit who bought the rights for the bio-pic on behalf of the Shetty sisters.The right to direct the film could not be taken away from him unless Rohit voluntarily forfeited it.
But now Vaid has allowed Abhishek Chaubey to take over as director while Vaid remains on board as co-producer.Shah Rukh, one hears, is now being sounded out again to play Gyan Chand.