Aani...Kashinath Ghanekar poster: Subodh Bhave looks spirited as the celebrated theatre, film artist

Hindi cinema is known for having big budget films take up the holiday slots for release. Now it seems Marathi cinema has caught up with the idea too. Aani... Kashinath Ghanekar, starring Subodh Bhave, is scheduled to be released on Diwali on 7 November. The film's release date and the first poster were revealed by the makers.

Going by the title, the film will be based on the celebrated theatre and film actor Kashinath Ghanekar. Among his various acclaimed stage performances, his act as Sambhaji in playwright Vasant Kanetkar’s Raigadala Jevha Jaag Yete, is the most remembered. His role in the 1967 Marathi film Madhuchandra made him famous as a film actor as well.

Ghanekar was also a dental surgeon. He passed away in 1986 at an early age of 47 due to a massive heart attack during a drama tour in Maharashtra.

The film's poster shows a spirited Bhave as Ghanekar. The stage curtains in the background give an artistic feel. All in all, the poster raises expectations for the film. After essaying real-life characters in films like Balgandharva (2011), Lokmanya: Ek Yugpurush (2015), it seems Bhave has become the go to actor for biopics in Marathi cinema.

The film marks the directorial debut of Abhijeet Deshpande who has previously worked as a writer on films like De Dhakka (2008), Mee Shivajiraje Bhosale Boltoy (2009), City Of Gold (2010), Shaitan (2011), Table No. 21 (2013), Natsamrat (2016), FU: Friendship Unlimited (2017) and the web series Breathe (2017).

Aani Kashinath Ghanekar is produced by Viacom18 Motion Pitures.