Mimtaz
When it comes to movies or OTT shows, biopics are the latest trend.
Now, we hear that a web series on a millionaire drug smuggler is in the making.
On Thursday (January 13), ‘Mumbai Saga’ director Sanjay Gupta has announced a 10-episode biographical web series of the milk vendor turned drug queen Shashikala Patankar aka Baby Patankar (or Meow Meow Queen).
Sharing the news, Sanjay took to Twitter and wrote, “On the auspicious occasion of Lohri it gives me great pride and joy to announce our web series based on the life of BABY PATANKAR. The astonishing true story of a household maid who created and controlled the biggest narcotics empire in Mumbai.”
Produced by Bhushan Kumar’s T-Series, the crime-drama series will be directed by Sanjay Gupta and Samit Kakkad.
Who Is Baby Patankar?
In the mid-1980s, Patankar was thrown out of her house, with her two kids in tow, by her abusive husband. She then started to live in Worli’s slums, working as a milk vendor and domestic help.
In the following years, she had reportedly started off by trading marijuana and brown sugar in Mumbai. The drug Mephedrone (MD), which is popularly known as meow meow, was brought to Mumbai by her.
She traded narcotics for over 30 years before she was arrested in 2015.
Talking about Baby Patankar, Sanjay Gupta told a daily, “She controlled the biggest narcotics empire in India. In 2015, she was arrested after 120 kilos of mephedrone was found at her residence. Our story traces the manhunt that remained unfulfilled till she surrendered. Her rise to power hinges on how she took over what was popularly considered a male bastion. How she exploited her romance with a cop is another interesting facet. We’ll also focus on her rivalry with existing drug lords who cut off her supplies.”
The yet-to-be-titled series is expected to go on floors in mid-2022.
