After endless delays, Shah Rukh Khan's next, Raees, is finally on track. A set is being erected on one of Film City's largest grounds. “The film is set in the '80s and we are mostly recreating certain parts of Ahmedabad from that time,“ says the film's director Rahul Dholakia. “The city has changed a lot since then and some of the old architecture is lost. The only way to get the old havelis with their intricate wood carving back is for our production designers, Anita Rajagopal and Daniel Reagan to create them here. Also, we have some action scenes which would be better to shoot on a closed set rather than on real locations,“ he says, adding that with all the detailing work, the set will be ready only in March which is when the film is expected to roll.

Try to pin him down to a date and he says the schedule will be locked only after the final recce and will depend on the progress on the sets. “But it's not going to be the Ides of March for sure,“ Rahul joked.

SRK has been spotted on the sets late at night. He is playing a gangster in the film. “He's a larger-than-life character in the film, the idea of which came from prohibition and its after-effects,“ says Rahul.

After a game of musical chairs which eventually led to Farhan Akhtar bowing out, SRK's nemisis is being played by Nawazudding Siddiqui. “Fortunately, it's a character driven role so it was the actor who has to adjust rather than me. When I'm discussing the role, I don't see Nawaz but my cop,“ he says. What's his name? “Let's leave a few surprises for later,“ Rahul laughs.

The biggest surprise however was Mahira Khan who sahashed across the border and beat her Bollywood colleagues to the much-coveted role of SRK's better half. “It's not about an Indian, Pakistani or an American NRI but about an artisite who fits the role. Her personality is a perfect match for the role,“ Rahul explains adding with a chuckle, “Please no controversies, I'm staying away from them this time.“