MUMBAI: After the success of Paan Sing Tomar, biopics seem to be the flavour of the season. Yesterday we had a story that said Tigmanshu Dhulia was making a biopic of Begum Samru with Rani Mukerji.

It has now come to light that Mudassar Aziz is set to direct a biopic on the life of the renowned Punjabi poet Shiv Kumar Batalvi produced by Sunil Bohra.

The film will revolve around the poet’s troubled love life and will be helmed by Mudassar Aziz. Casting for the film is yet to take place. “Batalvi’s poems have been an inspiration for many and Batalvi Sahab is loved across borders, in India as well as Pakistan. He was one of the most romantic poets and what can be a bigger tribute than a film on his own love story that ended tragically though,” said Bohra in a statement.

Batalvi was the youngest recipient of Sahitya Akademy Award for his epic verse play, Loona. After he couldn’t marry the girl he loved deeply, he took to alcoholism.

Later, he married another girl chosen by his family, who he thought resembled his love. Batalvi died due to chronic alcoholism at 35.

The lyrics of Batalvi’s famous poem, Ajj Din Chadeya Tere Rang Varga, were used in a song from actor-producer Saif Ali Khan’s film, Love Aaj Kal.