Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; November 10, 2017)

Given that his complicated love saga, Ajeeb Dastan Hai Yeh, one of the quartet of stories that comprised Bombay Talkies (2013), received critical acclaim, it is only fitting that Karan Johar would choose to test his filmmaking skills yet again. Johar is set to take on a genre he has never tackled before — comedy — for the upcoming sequel to the anthology.

Quelling previous reports of the film inching towards sensuality to abide by the theme of love and lust, an insider from Johar’s Dharma Productions says, “It will be an out-and-out comedy. Karan has never tried his hand at this genre, but, with Bombay Talkies, he unleashes his creative side. The story will revolve around a small-town couple, thus, breaking away from the grandeur and elite people synonymous to his films.”

While casting is currently underway, a source adds that Vicky Kaushal has been roped in as the leading man. “Karan approached him after he saw a few rushes of [Meghna Gulzar’s] Raazi. Vicky has given a screen test for his part. The final paperwork will take place next week.”

Although it was initially suggested that Parineeti Chopra had been locked for the part of the female lead, the actor, currently occupied with Dibakar Banerjee’s next with Arjun Kapoor, may not be able to accommodate the outing. The film will be shot at a city studio in the third week of December.

Johar’s movie will be produced by Ashi Dua, and presented by Ronnie Screwvala. The original, also featuring works by Anurag Kashyap, Dibakar Banerjee and Zoya Akhtar, was created in 2013 to mark the centenary of Indian cinema.