Ever since 12th Fail was released on December 29, 2023, on Disney Plus Hotstar, it became the talking point of not only India but also the world. Directed by Vidhu Vinood Chopra, 12th Fail is the story of a person named Manoj from Chambal who comes from a poor family background but goes on to become an IPS Officer. Apart from the inspiring storyline, the 12th Fail starcast is also receiving massive praise. Talking about starcast, 12th Fail features Vikrant Massey as Manoj Kumar Sharma, Medha Shankar as Shraddha Joshi, Anant V Joshi as Pritam Pandey, Anshumaan Pushkar as Gauri Bhaiya, Priyanshu Chatterjee as DSP Dushyant Singh, and more in the leading roles. Since you have landed on this page, True Scoop News assumes that you have also watched 12th Fail on Disney Plus Hotstar and have multiple questions related to IPS Manoj Kumar Sharma and his 'real-life' friend Pritam Pandey. Below is everything you need to know-
Is 12th Fail a true story?
The answer is yes. 12th Fail is a true story based on Anurag Pathak’s best-selling book of the same name that depicts the life of 'real-life' IPS officer Manoj Kumar Sharma and IRS officer Shraddha Joshi. While many people in IPS Manoj Kumar Sharma's life supported him in his UPSC journey. However, the movie has showcased a character named Pritam Pandey who brought Manoj with himself to Delhi and even kept him at his house despite the fact he did not know him for a long time. Now, the question arises who is 'real-life' Pritam Pandey? Below is what we know so far-
Notably, 12th Fail uses the real names of the characters in the movie as written in the book. However, the character of Pritam Pandey does not exist in reality. However, IPS Manoj Kumar Sharma in his multiple interviews has said that it is actually Anurag Pathak who was actually a journalist who helped him like Pritam Pandey. Hence, it can be said that Anurag Pathak is a real-life Pritam Pandey who helped Manoj Kumar Sharma in his IPS journey.
'Real Life' Pritam Pandey
Anurag Pathak hails from Gwalior and now based in Indore. He has made significant contributions to Hindi literature. He holds an MA and PhD in the field and is known for his engaging storytelling, as seen in his works like 'Twelfth Fail' and 'WhatsApp Par Kranti'. His literary prowess has not only entertained but also inspired many, much like the story of Manoj Kumar Sharma continues to inspire aspiring civil servants across India.
Anurag Pathak, who wrote the book ’12th Fail,’ is a close friend of Manoj Kumar Sharma. In addition to being friends, Pathak, witnessing Sharma’s dedication to woo Shraddha Joshi, advised him to prioritize his studies over pursuing a romantic relationship. This highlights the genuine concern and camaraderie between the two friends.