Bollywood actor Siddhant Chaturvedi is set to step into the shoes of one of Indian cinema’s greatest visionaries—V. Shantaram—in an ambitious upcoming biopic. With anticipation steadily building, the makers recently introduced yet another pivotal character from the film: actress Tamannaah Bhatia, who takes on the role of Jayshree, Shantaram’s second wife and a celebrated star of classic Indian cinema.
On Tuesday, Camera Take Films unveiled Tamannaah’s first-look poster, instantly sparking excitement across social media. Dressed in a soft pink Nauvari saree, Tamannaah exudes timeless elegance, capturing the refined charm that defined Jayshree’s screen presence. The vintage aesthetic—complete with traditional draping, understated jewellery and a serene expression—evokes the grace of the mid-20th-century film era. Sharing the poster, the production house wrote, “Jayashree – The star of an era, The strength behind a legacy, A chapter returning to history.”
The reveal drew admiration from the film fraternity, with Kajal Aggarwal calling Tamannaah “Beauty,” and Surbhi Jyoti chiming in with “beautiful.” Fans too were captivated, praising the casting and the transformation. Comments ranged from, “Wow, Tamannaah is finally doing good cinema,” to “Omg, so excited,” reflecting strong early enthusiasm for the project.
Speaking about portraying Jayashree, Tamannaah described the role as both humbling and creatively enriching. “It’s a great responsibility to portray a character rooted in one of the most influential eras of our cinema. I feel immensely honoured to bring to life Jayashree, as she has been part of such legendary projects and the amount of grace she had was surreal,” she shared. She also expressed admiration for V. Shantaram’s monumental influence, saying, “Shantaram built a legacy that continues to shape generations. Decoding his universe has allowed me to witness the brilliance of the man behind the legend. Bringing a piece of that legacy to the screen is truly a special feeling.”
The biopic is envisioned as a sweeping historical drama, tracing V. Shantaram’s remarkable journey from the silent era to his rise as one of Indian cinema’s most pioneering auteurs. Known for pathbreaking films such as Dr Kotnis Ki Amar Kahani, Shakuntala, Navrang, and Do Aankhen Barah Haath, Shantaram was celebrated for his experimentation, visual storytelling and humanistic themes.
Presented by Rajkamal Entertainment, Camera Take Films and Roaring Rivers Production, the film is produced by Rahul Kiran Shantaram, Subhash Kale and Sarita Ashwin Varde. Directed by Abhijeet Shirish Deshpande, the biopic aims to introduce Shantaram’s cinematic brilliance to a new generation of audiences.