By Subhash K. Jha

Mumbai, June 7 (IANS) When Guru Dutt cast himself as the anguished and desolate film director Suresh Sinha in 'Kagaz Ke Phool' everyone suspected him of indulging in biographical vanity.

Now, at least three new projects are being put together based on the life of Guru Dutt and one of them would probably star Amitabh Bachchan. This is in addition to the film based on the life of Satyajit Ray for which Bachchan has been roped in.

Are film directors the new biographical kick in the celluloid sweepstakes? It would seem so, going by the number of projects featuring real-life filmmakers in the lead.

Years ago Rajesh Khanna had played Dutt in Johnny Bakshi's 'Khudaai'. It was a reel-life replay of the Guru Dutt-Geeta Dutt-Waheeda Rehman triangle that hardly anyone saw.

Rahul Roy and Ajay Devgan played director Mahesh Bhatt in 'Phir Teri Kahani Yaad Aayee' and 'Zakhm' respectively. Now Shiney Ajuha is playing the Parveen Babi slice of the same director's turbulent life in Mohit Suri's 'Woh Lamhe'.

'It isn't exactly a bio-pic. But, yes, 'Woh Lamhe' does borrow elements from Bhatt saab's life, specially his relationship with Parveen Babi. To that extent Shiney is playing the director,' Suri told IANS.

From one Bhatt to another...Vikram Bhatt is part of a film where the protagonist is modelled on the director. The film is 'Ankahee' and the actor is his buddy Aftab Shivdasani.

'It was a huge responsibility playing Vikram on screen. We are close friends. And we have done eight films together. I have known him closely. But that doesn't qualify me to play Vikram,' said Aftab.

'What added to my responsibility was the fact that Vikram had dedicated the film to his daughter. I couldn't let him down,' he added.

Aftab isn't the only actor facing directorial stress. Nakul Vaid of 'Ab Tak Chhappan' plays director Goutam Ghose's alter ego in Ghose's 'Yatra', and recently the little-known actor Samir Dharmadhikari essayed a role apparently inspired by Madhur Bhandarkar in 'Madhubala'.

Ram Gopal Varma's 'Darna Zaroori Hai' had Anil Kapoor playing a director called Karan Chopra who makes huge family films. Karan Johar and Aditya Chopra, however, were not flattered.