Freedom fighters, kings, and sports stars have inspired many biopics in Hindi cinema. But director Rocky Mulchandani has found an unusual subject for his biopic — Raju Kalakar, a Surat-based puppeteer who became an internet sensation earlier this year with his rendition of the song, Dil Pe Chalai Churiya. Ask the director what exactly drew him to the story, and he pegs it down to Kalakar’s simplicity and honesty.  

“When I met Raju the first time, I was impressed. Earlier, he was running his father’s business of manufacturing dolls and selling them as puppets. When he couldn’t repay a loan, his wife left him. Raju worked hard, became successful, and won her heart again. I found that inspiring as marriages today end often because of ego clashes, but Raju put in efforts and showed that you can fix the cracks in your marriage. How he made his business thrive was equally fascinating,” shares Mulchandani.