Sanjay Gupta is all set to work on his next crime thriller. This time, he is co-directing a 10-episode web series with Samit Kakkad based on the life of drug queen Shashikala Patankar aka Baby. The show is produced by Bhushan Kumar and is expected to go on floors by mid-2022. In an interaction with a leading daily, Sanjay said India's Narcos is ready to be made. 

Talking about Baby Patankar (or Meow Meow Queen), a milk vendor turned drug queen, Sanjay told, "She controlled the biggest narcotics empire in India. In 2015, she was arrested after 120 kilos of mephedrone was found at her residence. Our story traces the manhunt that remained unfulfilled till she surrendered. Her rise to power hinges on how she took over what was popularly considered a male bastion. How she exploited her romance with a cop is another interesting facet. We’ll also focus on her rivalry with existing drug lords who cut off her supplies."

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The filmmaker added, "We have bought the official rights to the story. Kakkad coordinated the deal. Once she was on board, she was forthcoming [about the events in her life]. We brought a female writer on board so that she would be more comfortable opening up to a woman."

Sanjay shared that once the OTT platform is decided, they'll begin the casting process. "The beauty of OTT is that you don’t have the pressure to cast a star. We have to find the right actor to play Baby. Hansal Mehta could’ve cast a known name, but he chose Pratik Gandhi [for Scam 1992: The Harshad Mehta Story] who was a perfect fit for the role. As a filmmaker, this has been liberating," he said. 

(Source: Mid-Day)