Raj Kumar Gupta to direct Revolution 2020

September 30, 2013 - 1:52 PM IST

After the phenomenal success of Kai Po Che! which was an adaptation of Chetan Bhagat's The 3 Mistakes of My Life, Disney UTV is producing another movie based on a Chetan Bhagat bestseller. The studio has roped in Raj Kumar Gupta to direct a movie based on Chetan Bhagat's highest selling novel Revolution 2020. The director debuted with the studio and has directed his three films Aamir, No One Killed Jessica and Ghanchakkar with Disney UTV.

Chetan Bhagat shared the draft of his latest book with the creative team at Disney UTV during the pre-production of Kai Po Che! The Studio immediately saw the cinematic potential in the novel, which is high on drama and entertainment and at the same time hugely relevant to the youth of today. The studio snapped up the rights to the book immediately, a few months before it was launched. Within just a month of its launch in 2011, the novel notched up sales of 800,000 copies and is today one of the highest selling novels of all time in the history of Indian publishing. The novel will be made into an epic drama with strong roles for the three main leads, who will play the characters of Gopal, Raghav and Aarti, whose destinies are intertwined.

"We are really excited about working again with two incredibly talented individuals, with whom we've made some great movies. In the past, Raj Kumar Gupta directed powerful films like Aamir and No One Killed Jessica for us. And there's Chetan Bhagat who we've had a great time working with on the immensely successful Kai Po Che. So we're looking forward to bringing both of them together on Revolution 2020. Raj Kumar Gupta bringing his cinematic vision to Chetan Bhagat's Revolution 2020 is something to look forward to," said Rucha Pathak, Senior Creative Director - Studios, Disney UTV

"I am delighted to work with UTV again after Kai Po Che that not only did extremely well at the box-office but also was considered one of the best films of the year. Raj Kumar Gupta is brilliant director, especially for a story like Revolution 2020, steeped in contemporary Indian realism with a strong emotional content. Revolution 2020 is an intense love story, in the backdrop of corruption in the education sector, which exists and affects millions of youth across the country. Set in Kota and Varanasi, the book has sold a million and half copies, and has held pan-Indian appeal, including in the smaller cities. I expect the film to do the same. I can't wait for Gopal, Aarti and Raghav to be cast and come to life," added the author, Chetan Bhagat.

After directing three movies with Disney UTV, Raj Kumar Gupta was recently exchanging ideas for his next film with the studio's creative team and they suggested he read the novel as it was right up his alley creatively. Raj Kumar loved the novel and agreed to adapt and direct the screen adaptation of the best seller.

"I read Chetan Bhagat's Revolution 2020 and was quite moved by it. It is a very simple and heartfelt story about being young, being confused, being in love, getting corrupt. I am looking forward to writing and directing this book for the screen," said the versatile director, Raj Kumar Gupta

The screenplay of the film is currently underway and it is expected to go on the floors mid 2014.