“I had randomly written in my journal that ‘I am working with Zoya and Reema’ at the beginning of the year (2024),” Anuj Singh said.
The film takes viewers into the world of Malegaon’s indie filmmakers. (Photo Credit: Instagram)
Some dreams take years to materialise, while others take the shape of a perfectly scripted movie. For actor Anuj Singh Duhan, the latter seemed to be the case. Set to appear in Superboys of Malegaon, Anuj recently shared how his long-held wish to collaborate with celebrated filmmakers Zoya Akhtar and Reema Kagti became a reality. For Anuj, the experience feels nothing short of magical. Reflecting on the power of affirmations, he shared, “I am amazed at how manifestation works. I had randomly written in my journal that ‘I am working with Zoya and Reema’ at the beginning of the year (2024). It happens right, you write down your affirmations and then forget about them. But, by the end of the year, my manifestation actually came true! It still feels surreal.”
“I guess it’s a dream come true for every artist to be working on such an intriguing project. Firstly, would like to thank everyone for recognising my work in Pipa, it really means a lot and inspires me to work with more passion. I am eternally grateful to Reema for making me part of the family,” the actor added during his conversation with IANS.
Superboys of Malegaon shines a light on the spirited and determined amateur filmmakers of Malegaon, a small city in north Maharashtra. Alongside Anuj, the film boasts a stellar cast including Adarsh Gourav, Vineet Kumar Singh and Shashank Arora. The story draws inspiration from the 2008 documentary Supermen of Malegaon, which showed the essence of this filmmaking community – where passion for cinema triumphs over limited resources and adversity.
Supermen of Malegaon was directed by Faiza Ahmad Khan. Released in cinemas in 2012, the documentary showed how Malegaon’s residents, despite facing poverty and communal tensions, found joy and escape in creating hilarious spoofs of Bollywood films. This love for storytelling, even with meagre resources, remains at the heart of Superboys of Malegaon.
Helmed by Reema Kagti, the film immerses viewers into the fascinating world of Malegaon’s indie filmmakers, exploring their creative struggles and love for storytelling. Backed by Excel Entertainment, Superboys of Malegaon is all set to hit theatres on February 28.
Following its theatrical run, the film will also be available for streaming on Prime Video, ensuring that this inspiring tale reaches audiences far and wide.
The much-anticipated project had its grand premiere in the Gala section at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival on September 13.
