Arjun
Subhash K Jha (DNA; January 9, 2016)

Arjun Kapoor has been confirmed for Half Girlfriend directed by Mohit Suri. An insider reveals, “The hero of Chetan Bhagat’s novel is a Bihari. Arjun’s street-smart looks go well with the character of Madhav Jha in Half Girlfriend. He has played a North Indian before in three films: Ishaqzaade, Tevar, and 2 States. This time he pairs with Shraddha Kapoor.

It may have been slightly easier for the first choice for the film — Sushant Singh Rajput — to play the Bihari Romeo, as Rajput is from Bihar. But Arjun is leaving no stone unturned to make sure he gets the character right.

Says a source in the know, “It’s been wrongly reported that Arjun will speak Bhojpuri in Half Girlfriend. His character Madhav is a Maithil Brahmin. And this community speaks Maithili, not Bhojpuri. Arjun will speak in Bihari Hindi, with a peculiar Bihari twang. He is getting the hang of it. He will learn more about his character after he finishes promoting his new film Ki And Ka.”

Interestingly, this is Arjun’s second screen adaptation of a Chetan Bhagat novel after 2 States. And Arjun has not read either novel.