- Monday, March 10, 2025
By: Vibhuti Pathak
Filmmaker Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari, known for her successful films like Bareilly Ki Barfi and Nil Battey Sannata, has finally broken her silence regarding the much-anticipated biopic on Sudha Murthy and NR Narayana Murthy. Announced in 2021, the film aimed to chronicle the inspiring journey of the Murthys. However, with no updates on its progress, speculations about its delay had been making rounds. In an exclusive conversation with News18 Showsha, Ashwiny revealed why the biopic is still on hold and also shared her views on the ongoing box office crisis in Bollywood.
In 2021, Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari announced that she would direct a film based on the inspiring journey of Sudha Murthy and her husband, Infosys founder Narayana Murthy. However, in 2023, Sudha Murthy herself stated that no progress had been made regarding the biopic. Addressing the situation, Ashwiny shared, “We’re still writing it. It’s taking longer than expected, but I am very keen to tell their story.”
While remaining discreet about the film’s progress, she added that she is currently directing a couple of other films. It seems Ashwiny is focusing on her other production ventures before she takes the Murthy biopic to the floors.
Apart from the biopic, Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari has been working on multiple production ventures. Recently, she tied up with Tips Industries through a collaborative effort led by Ramesh Taurani’s daughter, Jaya Taurani. Talking about this association, Ashwiny said, “Usually, such collaborations happen between two men in power, but I’m glad this partnership will open doors for more women-led stories.”
Ashwiny also expressed her desire to start new conversations in cinema with her upcoming projects. She believes that her partnership with Tips will enable her to produce more inspiring and female-driven content, allowing meaningful storytelling to thrive.
While Bollywood has witnessed phenomenal success with films like Chhavaa and Pushpa: The Rule, many films have struggled to pull audiences to the theatres. Addressing the ongoing box office crisis, Ashwiny said, “Nobody knows what’s working. The audience is evolving, and filmmakers need to be fearless in creating commercially viable yet meaningful stories.”
She also criticized the ongoing trend of equating success with box office numbers. Ashwiny believes the industry’s obsession with the ₹100 crore club is harming creativity. “Why does every film need to touch ₹100 crore? Why can’t we create cinema that simply connects with the audience?”, she asked.
The filmmaker stressed that the focus should shift from monetary success to story-led content that resonates with audiences.
