Shekhar Kapur to Direct Epic Film on Unsung Vaccine Hero

Filmmaker Shekhar Kapur will direct 'Foreign Bodies,' a historical drama focusing on bacteriologist Waldemar Haffkine. This film will illuminate the life of the Ukrainian-Jewish scientist whose innovations in cholera and plague vaccines are credited with saving millions.

Haffkine served as the State Bacteriologist in India under the British Raj. He was later falsely accused of causing deaths from tetanus, an event that has been compared to the "Second Dreyfus Affair."

The production will span locations including Odesa, Paris, London, Mumbai, and Kolkata. It promises to portray Haffkine as a brilliant outsider shaped by persecution and loss, yet dedicated to scientific discovery.

Currently in its early stages, casting discussions are underway, with producers actively engaging potential partners at the Cannes market. Paul Twivy has penned the screenplay after extensive research into Haffkine's life and family records.