Bollywood superstar Aamir Khan’s son Junaid, who will make his film debut with the Netflix original Maharaj, has undergone a drastic physical transformation to play the character of a journalist.
The 30-year-old shed 26kg in two years, reported news agency IANS.
The latest poster from Maharaj, which will release on June 14, featured actor Jaideep Ahlawat and Junaid, who was born to Aamir and his first wife Reena Dutta.
The caption accompanying the post read: “The fight for the truth between a powerful man and a fearless journalist. Based on true events.”
According to Netflix, the storyline draws inspiration from the 1862 Maharaja Libel Case.
Junaid portrays Karsandas Mulji, a journalist and social reformer known for advocating women’s rights and social change.
The synopsis shared by the streaming giant reads: “The year is 1862, a time when there were only three universities in India, Rabindranath Tagore is a year old and the Sepoy Mutiny of 1857 continues to fan the flames of independence. Against all odds, one man takes a courageous stand in a landmark legal battle, a true story that’s now come to light in Maharaj – more than 160 years later.
“A student at Elphinstone College in Mumbai and a protege of the scholar-leader Dadabhai Naoroji, Mulji wrote on widow remarriage, stood up for the oppressed and sowed the seeds of reform in society.
“It all came to a head in the Maharaj Libel Case of 1862, which was ignited by allegations of misconduct by a prominent figure. The case garnered widespread attention and scrutiny, setting the stage for what many consider to be one of the most significant legal battles of all time.”
Mulji’s writings on widow remarriage and his efforts to uplift the oppressed were instrumental in sparking societal reform. However, certain Hindu organisations have expressed concerns about the film, alleging that it portrays Hindu saints in a negative light.
They are particularly aggrieved by the labeling of a leader of the Vallabha sect as a sex maniac and are reportedly planning to protest against the film.
Directed by Siddharth P Malhotra, Maharaj is backed by Yash Raj Films. It also stars Sharvari Wagh and Shalini Pandey.
