Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; March 14, 2018)

Ashutosh Gowariker is looking forward to his next film, Panipat, which is based on the Third Battle of Panipat. Starring Sanjay Dutt, Arjun Kapoor and Kriti Sanon, the ambitious project will go on floors by mid-2018. While the director is content with the lead cast, he is in the process of finalising the others.

“I shared screen space with Sanjay in Naam (1986), which was a memorable co-acting experience. It will be great to direct such a versatile and talented actor. What impresses me most about Arjun, apart from his fine performances, is his dynamism. He has played double roles twice [Aurangzeb, 2013 and Mubarakan, 2017], and has portrayed an action hero as well as a lover boy,” says Gowariker, as he goes on to praise his leading lady. “I needed someone who is beautiful and a good performer. The eclectic combination of these three is a first for me, and I look forward to this exciting journey with them.”

The high-octane action film, which is produced by Gowariker’s wife, Sunita, and Rohit Shelatkar’s company, Vision World, is scheduled to release on December 6, 2019. Though Gowariker’s last directorial venture, Mohenjo Daro (2016), was a dud, Shelatkar is certain that the filmmaker is perfect to helm Panipat. “Ashutosh has a tremendous track record. Lagaan (2001), Jodhaa Akbar (2008) and Swades (2004) are my favourites. I am confident that he will represent the subject in the best cinematic form,” he says.