Even as Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra gears up to shoot Toofan, a sports drama that will have Farhan Akhtar playing a boxer, the filmmaker has pencilled in the subject for his next project.

Fascinated by the journey of Putlibai, a dancer who took to dacoity to avenge her partner's murder, the director has decided to bring her story to the big screen. mid-day has learnt that Mehra has already registered the eponymous title with the Indian Motion Picture Producers Association. A trade source reveals, "Putlibai was born to a poor family in Chambal, in the early 20th century. She turned dancer to feed her family, and met Sultana Daku while performing at one of his ceremonies.