A biopic on legendary actress Madhubala is currently in development, with Sanjay Leela Bhansali backing the project. Reports suggest that Darlings director Jasmeet K. Reen is being considered to helm the film. Amid growing buzz, speculation around the casting of the female lead has been doing the rounds—but the film’s casting director has now set the record straight.
Casting rumours addressed
Since news of the biopic surfaced, several names have been linked to the titular role. After earlier reports about Kiara Advani being cast were dismissed, fresh rumours claimed that Aneet Padda had been finalised for the role. Shortly after, Sai Pallavi was also reported to be in contention for the part.
However, casting director Mukesh Chhabra has clarified that no such decisions have been made yet. Taking to X (formerly Twitter), he dismissed the ongoing speculation, stating that the casting process hasn’t even begun. In a now-deleted post, he sarcastically remarked that while new “final” names keep appearing in reports, the team has not started casting at all.
What we know so far
While there is no official confirmation regarding the lead actress, industry buzz suggests that Bhansali is keen on introducing a fresh face for the role. Reports also indicated that Sai Pallavi was among the names considered, but discussions did not materialize into anything concrete.
Madhubala, often regarded as one of Indian cinema’s most iconic stars, featured in over 70 films, many of which were major successes. Known as the “Venus of Indian cinema,” her legacy continues to captivate audiences even decades after her passing, making her biopic a highly anticipated and challenging project.