Recently, reports surfaced that Aamir Khan had once planned a film based on the famous K.M. Nanavati case a sensational 1959 trial that changed the course of India’s legal and media history. However, when Akshay Kumar’s Rustom (loosely inspired by the same case) was announced, Aamir quietly shelved his project.
But should he have? History suggests otherwise.
The Indian film industry has often witnessed multiple filmmakers working on the same subject at the same time. In such cases, the film with stronger content, conviction, and craftsmanship has always endured.
Mughal-e-Azam vs Anarkali
In the 1950s, as K. Asif toiled on his magnum opus Mughal-e-Azam, Filmistan Studios quickly produced Anarkali on the same story and released it earlier. But Asif, confident in his vision, continued undeterred. The result? Mughal-e-Azam went on to become one of the greatest films in Indian cinema, while Anarkali faded into history.
Shakti vs Farz Aur Kanoon
Similarly, in the early 1980s, when Ramesh Sippy announced Shakti bringing together the legendary Dilip Kumar and Amitabh Bachchan for the first time Telugu filmmaker K. Raghavendra Rao rushed Farz Aur Kanoon, starring Jeetendra in a double role. Though Farz Aur Kanoon hit the screens earlier, it was Shakti that left an everlasting mark, remembered for its towering performances and emotional depth.
The Nanavati case isn’t just a crime-of-passion story; it was a landmark trial that led to the abolition of jury trials in India. Rustom, while entertaining, presented a dramatized and fictionalized version of events. Aamir Khan, known for his commitment to authenticity and detail, could offer a film that treats the subject with the depth and seriousness it deserves.
Audiences today are more receptive than ever to content-driven cinema. If Dangal and Talvar could succeed while being rooted in real events, there’s no reason why an honest, well-crafted film on the Nanavati case wouldn’t find its audience — even if Rustom has already been made.
Cinema history shows that content is king. Great storytelling outlives quick, surface-level retellings. Just as K. Asif and Ramesh Sippy didn’t abandon their visions, Aamir too should reconsider. A factual, nuanced portrayal of the Nanavati case could not only set the record straight but also give India one of its most compelling courtroom dramas.
