Sanyukta Iyer (MUMBAI MIRROR; September 23, 2015)

When Delhi Belly actor Kunaal Roy Kapur was offered the role of Shiva in Ankush Bhatt's satire on religion and the Hindu trinity, 3 Dev, he immediately turned it down. But after two more narrations he was convinced that this would be the role of the year. "Shiva, fondly called Bhola or Bholenath, delivers the most blunt, to-the-point lines, irrespective of where he is," says Galib Asad Bhopali, son Asad Bhopali, poet-lyricist and Gulzar's frequent collaborator. The younger Bhopali, based in Mumbai, is the script, dialogue and screenplay writer of this upcoming film.

The film follows the journey of three youngsters who move from the city to a small village, where they are mistaken to be Gods. Ravi Dubey, better known as Siddharth Khurana in the TV soap, Jamai Raja, is seen as Brahma, the Creator, while Bipasha Basu's Alone co-star and steady date, Karan Singh Grover, is perceived as Vishu, the Protector. Kunaal, of course, is Shiva.

"It's an imaginary village and each character draws qualities from their mythological counterparts. Karan, who is Vishnu's avatar of Krishna, is a romantic and is always chasing women and playing a mouth organ, the modern-day flute. Ravi as Brahma describes the meaning of everything in great detail, for instance a simple word 'dhoka' is elaborated as 'Aap woh kar rahe ho, jise karne se aap mere emotions ke saath aap theek nahi kar rahe ho'. His confusing speech makes for great comic timing," laughs Bhopali.

The film, which goes on floors on October 15, in Mount Abu, has music by Sajid-Wajid. Singer-musician, Ustad Rahat Fateh Ali Khan is flying down to Mumbai, this week, to croon a peppy number around the three boys.

The film also features, Kay Kay Menon, as the boys' mentor. "He will remind you of the righteous Dilip Kumar from Karma. He is their advisor and peace keeper," says the writer, Bhopali, who started scripting the film in 2014, careful not to hurt the sentiments of any religious groups or the public in general.

Casting for a modern-day Parvati, Lakshmi and Saraswati is currently underway in Mumbai.