Filmmaker Rohit Shetty and Reliance Entertainment announced their collaboration to produce a biopic on Mumbai’s former commissioner of police Rakesh Maria. The upcoming feature film will be based on the experiences of Maria and his career. Shetty said he feels honoured to bring the real-life cop’s brave and fearless journey to the screen.
He wrote in a statement, “Rakesh Maria: The man who stared terror in the face for 36 years! His incredible journey spans all the way from the 1993 blasts in Mumbai, the underworld menace, to the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks in 2008. Feel truly honored to be bringing this real-life super cop’s brave & fearless journey to the screen.” The news, shared on his social media handles, garnered a lot of love from his fans and friends. Ranveer Singh hailed the project and called it “class”. Makers are yet to finalise the cast, director and title for the film.
Meanwhile, Maria shared his excitement to re-live his journey through the movie. He said, “It is exciting to re-live the journey, especially when piloted by a brilliant director like Rohit Shetty. More than the nostalgia, it’s also a valuable opportunity to place before the people the extraordinary work of the Mumbai Police when facing tough challenges and working against all odds.”
Maria, an IPS officer from the 1981 batch, cracked the 1993 Bombay serial blasts case as the Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic). He later served as DCP (Crime), Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime) and was appointed the Commissioner of Mumbai Police in 2014.
Maria also solved the 2003 Gateway of India and Zaveri Bazaar twin blasts case. He was also given the responsibility of investigating the 26/11 Mumbai attacks in 2008 and interrogated Ajmal Kasab, the only terrorist captured alive. In 2015, he was promoted to the Director-General of Home Guards. Maria retired in 2017.
