Vishal Bhardwaj wants to adapt the Tarun Tejpal case into a “Rashomon”-style film: “It’s a very important case for society”

Filmmaker Vishal Bhardwaj has said he is making a movie based on the Tarun Tejpal case, just days after the Bombay High Court overturned his earlier acquittal and found him guilty of rape, giving him a 10-year jail sentence.

He said, "It's a very important case for society."

Bhardwaj explained that the case has conflicting court decisions and many unknown details, which make it a good story for a film.

He wants to show different viewpoints instead of having a fixed opinion.

In an interview with Variety, Bhardwaj said, "The difference between the two judgments makes it perfect for a 'Rashomon' type story.

There are a lot of facts in this case that people don't know about, and they might be surprised to see them on screen."

He added, "The devil is in the details.

People don't want to read the long legal documents.I've gone through all the details many times, and I'm still trying to understand everything.It's a very important case for society."

Bhardwaj said he wants the film to be made without any fixed point of view.

"It's too early for me to decide what the film is about.I want it to be like a true film journalist, remaining neutral and observing without taking sides."

He explained his storytelling approach, saying, "Every story needs all the different points of view.

In a 'Rashomon' style, the same situation can be seen in many ways.The difference is just in perspective."

When talking about casting, Bhardwaj said he wants an actor who isn't familiar with the case so the performance is free from any preconceived ideas.

"I want the actor to be unaware of the crime and to forget the judgments.I want him to approach it like a fictional story."

Bhardwaj also said the film is being made with help from a major Bollywood studio, but he hasn't revealed the name of the production company.

This comes after the Bombay High Court overturned the 2021 acquittal of Tarun Tejpal by a Goa sessions court.

Tejpal was arrested in 2013 after a junior colleague accused him of sexual assault.

The trial court had acquitted him in 2021, but the Goa government challenged the verdict.

On August 6, the Bombay High Court overturned the acquittal, calling the trial court's judgment "perverse." The High Court considered the complainant's testimony, CCTV footage, and apology emails sent by Tejpal before convicting him and giving him a 10-year prison sentence.

Tejpal has said he will appeal the High Court's decision to the Supreme Court.