In an interview, Rohit Shetty opened up on why it's becoming a “problem” to cast for the biopic of Rakesh Maria. To note that the biopic is an adaptation of Maria's 2020 autobiography 'Let Me Say It Now'.
In 2022, filmmaker Rohit Shetty announced the biopic on former Commissioner of Mumbai Police, Rakesh Maria. But due to difficulties in casting, Rohit is not being able to make the film. In an interview on The Lallantop, the 'Golmaal' director opened up on why it's becoming a “problem” to cast for the biopic. To note that the biopic is an adaptation of Maria's 2020 autobiography 'Let Me Say It Now'.
In the interview, Rohit revealed that the casting is not done yet and added, ''Kyunki kahani unki 1985 se Taj attack tak hai. So ek young boy se leke 50 years ka aadmi, wahan tak ki life ki kahani hai. Toh uski casting mein thodi si problem aa rahi hai (We haven't locked the casting, we're yet to do it. Because his story goes from 1985 till the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks. So his life story travels from a young boy to a 50-year-old man. So we're facing a slight problem in his casting''.
Shetty confirmed that he'll start shooting the Rakesh Maria biopic once he's done with his upcoming cop universe movie, 'Singham Again', which is slated to hit the theatres this Independence Day. It has an ensemble cast of Ajay Devgn, Akshay Kumar, Ranveer Singh, Tiger Shroff, Deepika Padukone and Kareena Kapoor Khan among others.
Coming back to Rakesh Maria, he was an IPS officer who was known for cracking several cases in Mumbai. He solved the 1993 Bombay serial blasts case as the Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic).
He later served as DCP (Crime), and Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime). Later, he was appointed the Commissioner of Mumbai Police in 2014. In 2015, he was promoted to the Director General of Home Guards. Maria retired in 2017.
Maria also solved the 2003 Gateway of India and Zaveri Bazaar twin blasts case. The top cop was also given the responsibility of investigating the 26/11 Mumbai attacks in 2008 and interrogating Ajmal Kasab, who was involved in the 2008 blasts.