Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; November 16, 2017)

Indra Kumar’s Total Dhamaal, the third instalment in the Dhamaal franchise, has been making news over its interesting star cast. While the news of Anil Kapoor and Madhuri Dixit-Nene reuniting after 17 years since Pukar (2000) brought much cheer, all eyes were on which B-Town actor will play Ajay Devgn’s leading lady in the laugh riot.

Now, mid-day has learnt that Devgn will not have an actor paired with him in the comic caper. This development comes amid rumours that Ileana D’Cruz was the top contender for the role. A source working on the film reveals, “There was no truth to the rumours about Ajay recommending Ileana for Total Dhamaal. It is true that the original script had scope for another actress besides Madhuri. But on second thoughts, the makers felt that it would be interesting to see Ajay without a love interest. If you see Dhamaal and Double Dhamaal, Sanjay Dutt’s character too didn’t have a leading lady opposite him.”

This is the first time in the last seven years that Devgn is going solo. The 2010 political drama, Raajneeti, which was a modern-day telling of Mahabharata, also saw him without a love interest.

The source adds that the film will go on floors next month. “The team is currently doing a recee in Uttar Pradesh. They will start shooting in Lucknow tentatively on December 15. Ajay’s role will be similar to what Dutt has played in the earlier instalments. The role will be adapted keeping in mind Devgn’s brooding personality and quirks.”

We hear the makers are eyeing the Diwali 2018 window for release. If all goes as per plan, the festival will witness a box-office clash between Total Dhamaal and Aamir Khan’s Thugs Of Hindostan. This will mark the second box-office war between Khan and Devgn — their respective releases Secret Superstar and Golmaal Again locked horns this Diwali.

Despite repeated calls, Kumar hadn’t responded till the time of going to press.