In February, mid-day reported that John Abraham and Rohit Shetty would be teaming up for an action film (Taking a break from cops, not action, Feb 1). Over two months on, the actor-director duo is ready to roll their project, which is a screen adaptation of former Mumbai Police Commissioner Rakesh Maria’s autobiography, Let Me Say It Now. mid-day has learnt that the film will go on floors on April 18 at Esel Studio in Trombay. Shetty has apparently charted out a four-month schedule for the actioner, and hopes to complete a chunk by June-end.

The filmmaker is known for creating his cop universe in Bollywood. But unlike his cop entertainers, the yet-untitled movie will mark a tonal departure for Shetty as he attempts his first real-life story. Sources say that the film, backed by Shetty and Abraham along with a studio, is being mounted on a budget of over R100 crore and will chronicle the supercop’s storied 36-year career. An insider tells us, “Rohit always wanted to make a cop film rooted in truth. Rakesh Maria’s life reads like a thriller; it’s intense and has many high points, from his investigation of the 1993 Bombay blasts and the 26/11 attacks, to his brush with the underworld. Maria and Shetty have been in talks for a while, and it’s finally starting now. With the autobiography serving as the blueprint, the film will trace the story of a Bandra boy becoming a cop, his relationship with Mumbai and how he played a crucial role in protecting the city that faced many attacks.”