Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; July 19, 2017)

After a break of over five months, Alia Bhatt is ready to face the cameras for her next, Raazi, which will be directed by Meghna Gulzar. Based on Harinder Sikka’s bestselling novel, Calling Sehmat, the film revolves around a Kashmiri spy [Bhatt] who gets married to a Pakistani Army Officer [Vicky Kaushal]. Given the plot, Kashmir forms an integral part of the narrative.

However, before the project can go on floors, it has run into its first hurdle — the makers have been unable to procure necessary permissions to shoot in the Valley, given the state of unrest there.

A unit member, on condition of anonymity, informs, “The original plan was to start the shoot in the Valley. However, Kashmir has been knocked off in the first schedule. Rumours are rife that Ansarul Khilafah Jammu Kashmir [the Indian facet of the IS] is threatening the local police with violence and, in such a situation, it’s in everyone’s best interest to not shoot the film in the state.”

Considering Kashmir is an important element in the film, our source informs that the makers will recreate it in Mumbai — a large set will be erected in Film City where most of the indoor sequences will be shot. “A few local Kashmiri workers are building the set. Since the decor of the homes has to be authentic, local Kashmiri artworks and curios will be flown down by the producers. The set will take a few weeks to be complete.”

Meanwhile, the makers will kick-start the film’s shoot in Punjab. Bhatt and Kaushal will begin shooting by the end of this month. After their schedules in Punjab and Mumbai, the team will head to Delhi for another leg of shoot.