Aditya Dhar in talks to direct Lachit Borphukan biopic, says Assam CM

MUMBAI: History could soon get the big screen treatment. Riding on the box office success of Dhurandhar: The Revenge, filmmaker Aditya Dhar is in discussions to direct a grand biopic on legendary Ahom commander Lachit Borphukan, according to Himanta Biswa Sarma.

Speaking during a Facebook Live session on Thursday, Sarma said the Assam government has approached Dhar to helm a Hindi-language film that would bring Lachit Borphukan’s life and legacy to audiences across India and the world.

Praising the filmmaker’s credentials, the chief minister said Dhurandhar had emerged as a major success and described Dhar as one of the leading directors of his generation.

“We want to make Lachit Borphukan’s heroics known globally. If our government can produce a film on him, it will be a special achievement for us,” Government of Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said, according to PTI.

Sarma said preliminary discussions with Dhar have been positive and expressed hope that the director would visit Assam in August for detailed conversations on the project’s scale and creative vision.

However, he made it clear that the government’s plans do not hinge on a single filmmaker.

“If Aditya Dhar is unable to direct the film, we will approach other directors. The objective is to ensure that a grand biopic on Lachit Borphukan is made,” Government of Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said.

The proposed film forms part of the Assam government’s broader effort to promote the state’s history and cultural heritage through cinema. In its 2026-27 Budget, presented on 10 July, the government announced plans to support films based on the lives of Lachit Borphukan and freedom fighter Kushal Konwar.

Lachit Borphukan remains one of Assam’s most celebrated military leaders. He is best remembered for leading the Ahom forces to victory against the Mughal Empire in the historic Battle of Saraighat in 1671, halting Mughal expansion into the region. Despite suffering from severe illness during the campaign, his leadership and determination secured him a lasting place in Assam’s history. His legacy continues to be commemorated annually through Lachit Divas.

Dhar has not officially announced his next directorial project following the commercial success of Dhurandhar. If the discussions progress, the Lachit Borphukan biopic could become one of the most ambitious historical films backed by a state government in recent years.