Shah Rukh Khan buys Hindi remake rights of Hey Ram, confirms film's actor-director-producer Kamal Haasan

It was in the year 2000 that Kamal Haasan’s controversial film Hey Ram hit the theatres. Starring Haasan himself along with Shah Rukh Khan and Rani Mukerji in prominent roles, Hey Ram faced the ire of various political parties who alleged that the film portrayed Mahatma Gandhi in a bad light. Now there are reports that the award-winning film’s Hindi remake rights have been bought by Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan. [caption id=“attachment_4417845” align=“alignnone” width=“825”]  Shah Rukh Khan (left); Kamal Haasan from the film Hey Ram (right). Facebook[/caption] In a Mumbai Mirror  report, Haasan was quoted as saying, “Shah Rukh only got a wristwatch for acting in my film at the time because, by the end of it, I had nothing left in hand. Now, he is the brand ambassador for a watch brand. I am glad that he got the Hindi rights of Hey Ram from Bharat bhai (co-producer Bharat Shah). He should have some memory of the film as he gave his friendship and service for it.” The film was set in the pre-Independence era — around the time Mahatma Gandhi was assassinated by Nathuram Godse — and Haasan, Khan essayed the role of archaeologists. Hey Ram touched upon many socio-political issues indirectly that stemmed from the freedom struggle days and continued till the year 1999, seven years after the demolition of Babri Masjid. Hey Ram, produced and directed by Haasan, boasted of a stellar cast that included the likes of Hema Malini, Naseeruddin Shah, Om Puri, Atul Kulkarni, Vikram Gokhale and Nassar to name a few. Kulkarni also received a National Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in the film. Sarika won the National Award for Best Costume Design and Manthra won for Best Special Effects. The film was made in Hindi and Tamil.