Shekhar Kapur has a string of exciting projects lined up, including a historical biopic about Waldemar Haffkine, a bacteriologist and vaccine pioneer. Haffkine, largely unknown to the general public, was a Ukrainian-Jewish scientist whose work on cholera and plague vaccines in the late 19th and early 20th centuries saved millions of lives. The British Raj appointed Haffkine as their State Bacteriologist in India, but he was falsely accused of causing the deaths of nineteen people from tetanus in an incident later dubbed 'the Second Dreyfus Affair,' as reported by Deadline.
Film Details
Set across Odesa, Paris, London, Mumbai, and Kolkata, the film 'will follow Haffkine, a brilliant outsider, as he is shaped by persecution, exile and personal loss, but who repeatedly risks his own body and reputation in pursuit of scientific truth.' The project is being produced by Helen Hadfield (Snapper Films), Alexandra Stone (Streetcar Productions), Egor Olesov (United Heroes), and J.D. Zacharias (Curiosity Rights). Casting discussions are underway, with producers currently at the Cannes market to discuss the film with potential partners.
Masoom Sequel
Meanwhile, Kapur is busy making the much-anticipated sequel to 'Masoom.' The 1983 film was a poignant Hindi drama about a family's struggle to accept an illegitimate son. Starring Naseeruddin Shah and Shabana Azmi, it featured soulful music by R D Burman and lyrics by Gulzar. The film was celebrated for its sensitive storytelling and remarkable performances by child actors Jugal Hansraj and Urmila Matondkar. It swept the 1984 Filmfare Awards, winning Best Film (Critics), Best Actor (Naseeruddin Shah), and Best Music Director (R D Burman). Its iconic soundtrack includes the timeless ghazal 'Tujhse Naraz Nahin Zindagi,' the playful children's classic 'Lakdi Ki Kaathi,' and the soulful 'Do Naina Aur Ek Kahani.'
