Nawazuddin Siddiqui to star in folk artiste Teejan Bai’s biopic

Aaliya Siddiqui’s first film as a producer Holy Cow (2022), which starred Sanjay Mishra in the lead, recently hit the theatres. She is now all set to roll out her second feature in the form of the biopic on Chhattisgarhi folk artiste Teejan Bai, which is yet untitled, under her banner YS Entertainment. 

While Siddiqui’s husband and well-known actor Nawazuddin Siddiqui made a special appearance in Holy Cow, he will be playing one of the pivotal characters in Teejan Bai's biopic. 

Teejan Bai is a Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan and Padma Vibhushan awardee and has been a great exponent of Pandvani, a performing arts form that involves narrating the tales of the Pandavas from the ancient epic Mahabharata. 

Sharing her happiness at making the film, Aaliya said that she is blessed by the response that her first film Holy Cow is getting and this has encouraged her to work harder towards her second project. 

“I’ve always wanted to make a film on amma (Teejan Bai),” she said in a statement. “Even at this age, she performs on stage for hours and doesn’t forget a single word. Even Nawaz has been a huge admirer of Teejan Bai’s work since his early days as a theatre actor and has seen her perform live. And I am happy that Nawaz will be playing one the main characters in the film.”

Adding about Teejan Bai’s achievements, she said, “She fought the norms created by the society at a time when women barely had the right to speak up and that’s admirable. She has been awarded and honoured with India’s fourth-highest civilian honour Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan and Padma Vibhushan. And it will be my honour to make a film on her and show her life story to my audiences on the big screen. I had taken all the rights before the pandemic. And now hoping to start the shoot by the end of this year.” 

Reacting on the news, Teejan Bai said in a statement, “I have been hearing a lot of praises for Aaliya Siddiqui’s first film Holy Cow. Her knowledge about films is impressive and deep. I am very happy and excited to have given the rights of my biopic to her. I am just waiting for her to bring my life story on the screen and in front of the audience. I am sure she will present my story in a beautiful way.” 

The director and the rest of the cast of the movie will be announced later.