Sanyukta Iyer (MUMBAI MIRROR; June 14, 2017)

For debutant director Bosco Martis, who started scouting for a leading lady for his musical drama Circus a year-and-a-half ago, the hunt has been nothing short of a roller coaster ride. After an initial jump-start last summer, when the choreographer-turned-filmmaker got a nod from Kangana Ranaut, with Sooraj Pancholi stepping in for another prominent role, the film suffered a setback when the actress bowed out citing scheduling conflicts. Then, in an interview to Mirror (Aug 12, 2016), Bosco confirmed that Parineeti Chopra had been roped in for the part, while Sooraj moved on to prep for a drama directed by Faruk Kabir.

However, earlier this year, news surfaced that Parineeti, too, had opted out following some back and forth and the project had been shelved. Now, Mirror has learnt that Bosco has found his leading lady in Sonakshi Sinha, who recently signed on the dotted line after a narration last December, followed by a final reading recently. Sona will be seen as a trapeze artiste.

Suniel Shetty is on-board as her father, a former circus performer. The actor was excited about the project when Mirror caught up with him recently, insisting that Circus is on track and Bosco has already wrapped up prep. “It’s an ambitious, intense story with a larger-than-life set-up. I’m looking forward to filming with Sonakshi,” he said.

Spanning decades, the film will feature extensive flashbacks and the trapeze sequences are expected to be strenuous. “While the supporting cast will consist of trained performers, the leads will train with gymnasts and acrobats to work on their stance and balance. There will be extensive action and dance sequences with fire and water acts,” informed a source close to the development, adding that the actors are set to attend workshops with an international crew before the first schedule of the film kicks off next month in the US.

Sonakshi was last seen as a journalist in Sunhil Sippy’s Noor. She recently wrapped up her 2018 release, Abhay Chopra’s Ittefaq, with Sidharth Malhotra.