Avinash Lohana (MUMBAI MIRROR; August 11, 2017)

After delivering hits like Mani Ratnam’s O Kadhal Kanmani (made in Hindi as OK Jaanu), Anjali Menon’s Bangalore Days and Martin Prakkat’s Charlie, Malayalam actor Dulquer Salmaan is now Bollywood-bound. Son of veteran actor Mammootty, the 31-year-old actor will be seen in Ronnie Screwvala’s yet-untitled production that also features Irrfan Khan. The film marks the directorial debut of Akarsh Khurana, who has co-written the script with Hussain Dalal, the dialogue writer for Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani and 2 States. Abhishek Bachchan, who was initially tapped for Dulquer’s part, had to opt out as his dates clashed with JP Dutta’s comeback film Paltan.

“It’s a light-hearted comedy that will see Dulquer and Irrfan as friends on a road trip. The film rolls by the monthend in Kerala,” informs a source. Mithila Palkar from the popular web series, Girl In The City and Little Things, is the female lead.

Dulquer is gearing up for the release of Bejoy Nambiar’s Malayalam-Tamil bilingual, Solo, and Soubin Shahir’s Malayalam film Parava. Irrfan is at the Locarno Film Festival for the world premiere of The Song of Scorpions.