Shimit Amin takes a leaf out Shaad Ali and Aditya Chopra's books for his directorial comeback after seven years
Gaurav dubey (MID-DAY; August 8, 2016)

Ranveer Singh seems to be on the wishlist of several Bollywood filmmakers — especially directors returning after a hiatus.

Shaad Ali ended his six-year sanyaas from direction with 'Kill Dil' (2013), which starred Ranveer alongside Ali Zafar and Parineeti Chopra.

Last year, when YRF boss Aditya Chopra decided to wield the directorial baton with 'Befikre' — seven years after 'Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi' — he put his money on the 31-year-old actor. Now, we hear Shimit Amin is set to don the director's hat once again with a romance drama under the Yash Raj Films (YRF) banner, and who better than Ranveer to play lover boy?

Says a source close to the actor, "Ranveer is on a movie signing spree. This is the third project that he has signed this year after Sanjay Leela Bhansali's 'Padmavati' and Zoya Akhtar's 'Gully Boy'. The shooting for Amin's next is expected to begin as soon as he completes Zoya's film."

The leading lady is yet to be finalised and the makers are targeting a 2017 release.

Shimit Amin made his directorial debut with Shah Rukh Khan-starrer 'Chak De! India' (2007) and followed it up with 'Rocket Singh: Salesman Of The Year' (2009) featuring Ranbir Kapoor. "He has been associated with YRF for a long time — he was also a consultant for the 2013 film, 'Shuddh Desi Romance'. So, when the question of casting for his comeback project arose, YRF's blue-eyed boy Ranveer was the obvious choice," adds the source.

Ranveer remained unavailable for comment while the spokesperson for YRF said, "[We are] Not in a position to confirm or comment at the moment."

The actor is currently busy with brand commitments and is prepping for Sanjay Leela Bhansali's 'Padmavati' in which he will essay Alauddin Khilji. The film is scheduled to go on floors next month.