Sonil Dedhia (MID-DAY; March 20, 2018)

Six years after being involved in a musical chair of sorts — as the film jumped from one actor’s lap to another’s — Tigmanshu Dhulia’s Milan Talkies finally went on floors in Lucknow yesterday. Evidently ecstatic to return to his hometown, lead actor Ali Fazal says he took to the film with renewed vigour.

While there has been sufficient speculation about the actor’s role in the romance drama, Fazal refuses to divulge details. However, in a chat with mid-day, he spills the beans on his preparation for the film, which also touches upon the plight of single screen owners in the age of multiplexes. “I am connecting with owners of single screens, and other people who have worked in theatres. This includes the ushers, and those who operate the reels,” says the actor, who has also apparently met trade pundits to learn of their operations.

“Growing up in Lucknow, I visited several single screens, so I am refreshing my memories. It is an interesting process.” Meanwhile, the actor also shed weight for his part, since he needed to look lean for the film. “I recently wrapped up [the web series] Mirzapur, which needed me to look muscular. So, it took me some time to lose the pounds.”

The film, also starring Ashutosh Rana, Sanjay Mishra, Yashpal Sharma and Sikander Kher, sees Dhulia as the writer of the story, screenplay, and dialogues. Fazal is paired alongside newbie Shraddha Srinath in the venture.