(This story originally appeared in on Jun 13, 2016)

Sanjay Baru’s controversial book

NEW DELHI: “It takes years of labour and exemplary political acumen to even dream of heading a state. But this is the story of a man who possessed neither, and yet went on to become a prime minister. A man, who was unaware even a day before his anointment, that he will be PM of world’s largest democracy.”So goes the voice over in the opening shot of ‘ Manmohan Singh - The Accidental Prime Minister’, a Bollywood flick that is slated to be released towards the end of 2017. The film, based on‘The Accidental Prime Minister: the Making and Unmaking of Manmohan Singh’, will give its viewers an insight into Singh’s decade as the prime minister of India till 2014, people associated with the film told ET. ET has previewed a teaser of the movie.The producers are expected to release the teaser on August 30. The first look is likely to bring discomfort to many Congress bigwigs by showcasing how Sonia Gandhi-led Congress allegedly denied a state funeral to former prime minister Narasimha Rao in the country’s capital. It shows how senior Congress leaders were “instructed” to convince heirs of Rao for cremation in Hyderabad.People associated with the project said the film will be released in more than a dozen languages in India and worldwide. The hunt is still on for actors to do some key roles, including those of Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi . A young actor from Punjab has been shortlisted to play the role of Manmohan Singh, sources said.“We are already in touch with overseas casting agencies looking for a foreign actress who makes the cut (to act as Sonia Gandhi) if we are unable to find one in the Indian industry,” said a person associated with the movie project.As per available information, the filmmakers are keen to sign in noted actor Manoj Bajpayee to play Sanjaya Baru in the movie. Armed with the inside information shared by Baru in his book, the moviemakers want to give a real view of the functioning of Prime Minister’s Office (PMO).“The movie will be a true reflection of Mr Sanjaya Baru’s book”, shared Sunil Bohra, producer of the movie who has about 140 films to his credit, including award winning productions such as Chittagong and Shahid and blockbusters like Gangs of Wasseypur. “The endeavour is not to create any sensation but to present a true account of what transpired during those ten years which changed the political spectrum of the country and fortunes of India’s oldest political party-Congress,” Bohra said.Baru, who was Singh’s media advisor from May 2004 to August 2008, released his book in 2014, ahead of the general elections in which the Narendra Modi-led NDA came to power with a huge majority. The book had created a storm of political controversy. Bohra said he decided to make a feature film, and not a documentary on the book, after an eight-month-long research.“Having realised the significance of the unparalleled content the book has, we have decided to make a commercial movie out of it and not confine it to a documentary,” he said. Bohra’s banner, Bohra Bros Production, had last year acquired the rights of Baru’s book.