Shah Rukh Khan confirmed to star in Indian astronaut biopic

Shah Rukh Khan is confirmed to star in the biopic of astronaut Rakesh Sharma, who is said to be the first Indian to have flied to space.

Sharma flew aboard Russian spacecraft Soyuz T-11 for eight days in 1984, during which he carried out experiments and conducted an Earth observation program concentrating on India. He's also said to be the first astronaut to have practiced yoga in space.

The film is tentatively titled Saare Jahaan Se Achcha, taking the name from the now-famous incident in which then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi asked Sharma via live link how India looked from space and he quoted the famous Iqbal verse "Sare Jahan Se Acha [The best in the world]".

It's rumoured that Dum Laga Ke Haisha star Bhumi Pednekar has been signed opposite Shah Rukh in the film.

The film is also being produced by Siddharth Roy Kapur. Its script has been written by Anjum Rajabali whose penned scripts of Raajneeti and The Legend of Bhagat Singh. It will be directed by Mahesh Mathai (Bhopal Express).

The film's shoot will begin in February or March next year.

Shah Rukh Khan will next be seen in Zero, a film about a man with dwarfism.