Many big Bollywood movies have been pushed forward to 2021, thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown.
Among them are quite a few bio-pics.
Joginder Tuteja looks at the real life stories that will be told in the movies in the next year.
'83
'83 was supposed to arrive in April 2020. It will now likely release in the first quarter of 2021.
Based on India's historic 1983 World Cup triumph, this Kabir Khan film has Ranveer Singh playing Kapil Dev.
Cricket is always exciting to watch on the big screen and '83 should be a riveting affair.
Prithviraj
Prithviraj was meant to be this year's big Diwali release. Now, it has been pushed to the next year, and one waits to see what release date Yash Raj Films picks.
Akshay Kumar plays Prithviraj Chauhan and debutante Manushi Chillar will play Samyukta, the princess he spirited away in a story we learnt in our school textbooks.
The film's shoot was halted during the pandemic lockdown, but it is almost complete now.
Bhuj - The Pride of India
Had things stayed on course, Ajay Devgn would have followed up his blockbuster Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior with another bio-pic, Bhuj - The Pride of India.
With the 1971 War as its backdrop, Bhuj highlights the heroics of Squadron Leader Vijay Karnik who was in charge of Bhuj airport during that India-Pakistan conflict.
The film is being planned for a digital release on Disney+Hotstar.
Thalaivi
A lot has been written about Kangana Ranaut playing J Jayalalitha.
Arvind Swami will play MGR, Jayalalitha's political mentor.
Given the drama that the story boasts of, one expects some good entertainment.
Gangubai Kathiawadi
The coming together of Sanjay Leela Bhansali and Alia Bhatt was meant to be special and after the shelving of Inshallah, Gangubai Kathiawadi got pushed ahead after the lockdown.
One waits to see Alia as a female gangster in the film which is based on a real life story.
Maidaan
The makers of Maidaan confirm that it will be released at Dusshehra 2021.
Based on football coach Syed Abdul Rahim's life and times, Maidaan is set in the 1950s.
This will be Ajay Devgn's third bio-pic after Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior and Bhuj: The Pride of India.
Maidaan is directed by Badhaai Ho-hit-maker Amit Ravindranath Sharma.
Shershaah
Shershaah gives Sidharth Malhotra a platform to play an author-backed part.
A Kargil war drama where he plays Vikram Batra, Param Vir Chakra, Shershaah is a Karan Johar production and has been designed as a big screen watch.
Vishnu Varadhan, who directed Ajith in Billa, will make his Hindi debut with Shershaah.
The Big Bull
Had it not been for Scam 1992, one would have witnessed Harshad Mehta's escapades on the big screen in The Big Bull.
The pandemic resulted in the film being scheduled for an OTT release.
Though it was expected to arrive on Disney+Hotstar in 2020 itself, after the release of Director Hansal Mehta's acclaimed and hugely successful Scam 1992, The Big Bull was pushed to 2021.
This is an author backed role for Abhishek Bachchan.
Shabaash Mithu
2021 is going to be a golden year for Taapsee Pannu, as she will be seen in half a dozen releases.
Amongst all the genres she is exploring is a cricket drama, Shabaash Mithu .
Based on women's cricket legend Mithali Raj's life, the film sees the return of Director Rahul Dholakia after Shah Rukh Khan's Raees.
Saina
Another sports drama to be unveiled on the big screen is Saina, based on London Olympics badminton bronze medalist Saina Nehwal's life.
The film went through some casting changes; Shraddha Kapoor was to have played Saina.
She made way for Parineeti Chopra who has started shooting for the film being directed by Amole Gupte.
