After years of enthralling audiences with larger-than-life portrayals of fictional police officers in blockbuster cop films such as ‘Singham,’ ‘Simmba,’ and ‘Sooryavanshi,’ Rohit Shetty is all set to bring to the big screen an extraordinary story of a real supercop. Peepingmoon.com can exclusively confirm now that Shetty is next directing a mainstream cop drama based on the life of Rakesh Maria, widely regarded as one of India’s most iconic and accomplished police officers. 

John Abraham will headline this long-gestating project, stepping into the role of Maria, a conscientious and steadfast police officer whose career was defined by his involvement in some of the nation’s most sensitive and high-stakes cases. “Rakesh Maria’s life is a gripping tale filled with dramatic highs and lows, as well as many controversial moments. With Abraham in the lead and Shetty directing it, this film promises to be an electrifying cinematic experience, seamlessly blending gritty realism with Shetty’s signature flair for high-octane, larger-than-life storytelling. Both Shetty and Abraham have long wanted to collaborate, and they’re particularly thrilled to join forces on this specific story,” a source close to the development told us. 

Based on Maria's 2020 memoir, “Let Me Say It Now,” this yet-untitled film is currently in pre-production. Filming is slated to begin in mid-next month, with Shetty planning to complete the shoot in a single, uninterrupted 45-day schedule. The director aims to wrap up production by June 2025, after which he will shift focus to the next season of ‘Khatron Ke Khiladi’ before commencing work on the highly anticipated ‘Golmaal 5’ later in the year. 

The Rakesh Maria biopic marks Rohit Shetty’s first venture into true-life storytelling, and he is working closely with Rakesh Maria to ensure an authentic depiction of his courageous journey. For John Abraham, this role adds another real-life police officer to his repertoire, following his portrayal of Sanjeev Kumar Yadav in Nikkhil Advani’s 2019 action thriller, ‘Batla House,’ which was based on the 2008 Batla House encounter case. His upcoming release, ‘The Diplomat,’ is also inspired by real events and features him as JP Singh, India’s former Deputy High Commissioner in Islamabad, who played a crucial role in Uzma Ahmed’s return to India in 2017. 

Recognized as one of the most distinguished officers in Indian policing history, Rakesh Maria has received the Police Medal for Meritorious Service in 1994 and the President’s Medal for Distinguished Service in 2007. Over his illustrious 36-year career in the Indian Police Service, he has led several high-profile investigations, including the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts, the 2008 Indian Mujahideen module crackdown, the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, and the Sheena Bora murder case. His remarkable contributions to law enforcement have left an indelible mark on India’s fight against crime and terrorism.