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Mumbai, October 23, 2026: The Hindi film “Sanoj: Tanha Safar”—based on the life struggles of prominent Bollywood filmmaker Sanoj Mishra, who has been active in the film industry for the past three decades—was announced today at a press conference.
Over the last few years, Sanoj Mishra has faced a series of hardships and struggles. Amidst various allegations, he even spent time in jail. He had offered a role to Monalisa—whom he discovered selling datun (traditional tooth-cleaning twigs) at the Mahakumbh—and was in the process of training her for the film “The Diary of Manipur.” However, the project came to a halt when Monalisa allegedly moved to Kerala.
At the press conference, Sanoj Mishra stated, “When I objected, Monalisa—who used to regard me as a father figure—accused me of molestation and filed a case against me in Kerala under the POCSO Act. There was a conspiracy behind this, orchestrated by his former producer, Waseem Rizvi (former chairman of the Shia Waqf Board), against whom I had previously filed a case for a fraud amounting to 3 crore rupees. During the making of the film ‘The Diary of West Bengal,’ I was also targeted with several serious charges and even faced attempts on my life; at that time, Kangana Ranaut had come to my defense.”
Directors Kripa Shankar Saroj and Abhilash S. Gupta—who have both worked as associates of Sanoj Mishra—now intend to bring the complex truth behind these events to the big screen. The film is being crafted based on the experiences and the reality they witnessed while working closely with Sanoj. The film attempts to shed light on how, within the controversial world of Bollywood, Waseem Rizvi manipulated a young woman into framing a ‘Sanatani’—in this case, Sanoj—leading to his imprisonment. Later, the same woman admitted in court that she had been paid by Waseem to level these accusations. The court subsequently acquitted Sanoj with honor and raised concerns regarding the filing of false cases, noting that such actions erode public trust in the judicial system.
The film is produced by Ashicom Media Pvt. Ltd., with Deepak Sutha as the writer, Adhir Datta as the music composer, Iqbal Singh Mehrok as the Director of Photography (DOP), and Yogesh Pandey as the editor. Casting is currently underway, and the film is set to go on the floor in December. It will be shot primarily at real-life locations, and many of the cast members will also be individuals drawn from real-life backgrounds.
Sanoj Mishra further shared, “There were moments when I felt like committing suicide. The weight of all these accusations began to take a toll on my mental stability. My mother, too, became deeply distressed. This film represents my 35-year journey. Ever since childhood, I had a dream of entering Bollywood. I was alone 35 years ago, and I remain alone today. I treated Monalisa like a daughter and spent time with her family; yet, what she did to me ended up damaging my career.”
“My life is an open book, and this film is a chapter from that book. Having faced so many accusations and endured so much, the fear has completely vanished from my heart. I am a sadhu—a spiritual person. It is important that the truth reaches the public, which is why I am bringing this story to light. Filmmaking is not my profession; I live like a fakir (an ascetic). I am playing the lead role in this film myself. It features both glamour and scope for music.” On this occasion, Sanoj Mishra’s lawyer stated, “The court has honorably acquitted Sanoj-ji. People are often envious of success, which is why some of his adversaries have tried to entangle him in legal matters; however, a lie remains a lie, and the truth remains the truth. He will be acquitted in every case. His mother was subjected to mental distress, yet his courage deserves to be commended—he never lost heart.”