Jim Sarbh eyes Jim Corbett biopic: 'I'm fascinated with that guy'
Synopsis
Fresh off acclaim for 'Made in India: A Titan Story', Jim Sarbh has named his dream role: Jim Corbett. The actor says he is 'fascinated' by the English-born, India-raised hunter who spoke Hindi fluently, rejected his compatriots' exploitation of India, and famously said he'd have picked the camera over the gun in another era.
Key Takeaways
Jim Sarbh has expressed interest in playing legendary hunter and conservationist Jim Corbett in a biopic.
The actor said he is 'fascinated' by Corbett, calling his life an 'inspiring story' of an Englishman raised in India.
Sarbh highlighted that Corbett spoke Hindi fluently and rejected the colonial exploitation of India by his compatriots.
Corbett reportedly said he would have picked up a camera instead of a gun had he been born in a later era.
Sarbh's current release 'Made in India: A Titan Story' is streaming on Amazon MX Player .
Actor Jim Sarbh, riding a wave of acclaim for his turn in the recently released streaming series 'Made in India: A Titan Story', has expressed a keen desire to headline a biopic on legendary hunter-turned-conservationist and author Jim Corbett. Speaking to reporters in Mumbai during the show's promotions, the actor said he is 'fascinated' by Corbett's life and hopes a filmmaker eventually brings the story to the screen.
What Jim Sarbh said
'I'm fascinated with that guy. I hope somebody makes a show or a movie based on him. I would love to play the character,' Sarbh said. He framed Corbett's life as 'another one of these inspiring stories of an English guy raised in India' — a man who 'absolutely rejected wanting to go back home' and felt his compatriots were 'exploiting' the country 'completely'.
Why Corbett intrigues him
Sarbh pointed to Corbett's deep cultural assimilation, noting that the hunter 'could speak Hindi better than anybody else around'. He recounted how Corbett 'hung up his gun' early and returned to hunting only when a man-eater needed tracking. 'You hear the stories and it's incredible,' the actor said.
The most striking detail Sarbh shared was Corbett's own reflection on the era he was born into. According to the actor, Corbett once said that 'if he had grown up in a different time when the camera was invented instead of the gun he would have never picked up a gun'. Back then, Sarbh explained, 'the only way to go into the jungle for 5-6 days was if you were a hunter. There was no other financial fiscal way to support it.'
Who was Jim Corbett
Born in Nainital in 1875, Edward James Corbett went on to become one of India's earliest and most influential wildlife conservationists. He is remembered as much for tracking man-eating tigers and leopards in the Kumaon hills as for his later advocacy that led to the country's first national park — now known as Jim Corbett National Park — established in 1936. His books, including 'Man-Eaters of Kumaon', remain widely read.
What's next for Sarbh
For now, the Corbett project remains a wish rather than an announcement. Sarbh's current release, 'Made in India: A Titan Story', is streaming on Amazon MX Player and chronicles the rise of the Tata-founded watchmaker. The actor, known for layered turns in 'Rocket Boys', 'Made in Heaven' and 'Padmaavat', appears keen to add another real-life figure to his filmography.
Point of View
Which has leaned heavily on sportsperson and freedom-fighter biopics but rarely on conservationists. A Corbett story — colonial-era Englishman, fluent Hindi speaker, complicated saviour of the very tigers he once hunted — is exactly the morally textured material Bollywood usually flattens. Whether any producer takes the bait is another matter; wildlife films are notoriously expensive and rarely greenlit without a marquee director attached. For now, this is a wish, not a project — but it's a telling one about where Sarbh wants his career to go.
NationPress
7 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What role does Jim Sarbh want to play next?
Jim Sarbh has said he would love to play hunter-turned-conservationist and author Jim Corbett in a biopic. He made the remarks during promotions of his streaming show 'Made in India: A Titan Story' in Mumbai.
Why is Jim Sarbh fascinated by Jim Corbett?
Sarbh described Corbett as an inspiring example of an Englishman raised in India who rejected returning home and was critical of how his compatriots treated the country. He also highlighted Corbett's fluency in Hindi and his eventual shift away from hunting.
Where can viewers watch 'Made in India: A Titan Story'?
The show is available to stream on Amazon MX Player. It chronicles the origin and rise of the Titan watch brand.
Who was Jim Corbett?
Jim Corbett was a British-Indian hunter, tracker, naturalist and author best known for killing man-eating tigers and leopards in the Kumaon region and for his later conservation work. India's first national park, Jim Corbett National Park, is named after him.
Has a Jim Corbett biopic been officially announced?
No, no Jim Corbett biopic has been officially announced. Sarbh's comments express a personal wish rather than a confirmed project.
