Vidya Balan who is currently working in a Telugu biopic of actor-politician Nandamuri Taraka Rama Rao (NTR), will reportedly play “human calculator” Shakuntala Devi in her next film. Vidya is playing NTR’s wife in the biopic.
The actress has shown her interest in playing the role of Guinness record holder Shakuntala Devi who was a mathematician and nicknamed “human computer”. The film will be directed by Anu Menon and produced by Ronnie Screwala.
A source revealed, “Vidya found the story really inspiring when Anu approached her but is yet to sign the project. Anu has researched a lot for the film which is currently in the final stages of scripting, following which the team will start on an extensive prep. The film is likely to roll sometime next year.”
Shakuntala Devi was an Indian writer and mathematician. She wrote several novels as well as texts about mathematics, puzzles, and astrology. She wrote a book, The World of Homosexuals, the first study of homosexuality in India.
Shakuntala’s father who worked in a circus came across her ability to memorize numbers while teaching her a card trick when she was just three. After that, he took her on a road trip to showcase her special talent at calculations. She first time demonstrated her ability at the University of Mysore at the age of six. She never had any formal education.
In April 2013, at the age of 83, Shakuntala Devi died in a hospital in Bangaluru.