Avinash Lohana (MUMBAI MIRROR; September 7, 2018)

Mirror (August 31) had earlier reported that  Gul Panag has joined the cast of Punit Malhotra’s campus romance, Student Of The Year 2, as sports coach to the new ‘students’, Tiger Shroff, Ananya Panday and Tara Sutaria. We have now learnt that the actress has been roped in to play the antagonist in Naman Nitin Mukesh’s debut directorial that features his brother Neil Nitin Mukesh in the lead. Neil is also producing the film with Madan Paliwal.

“This is the first time ever that I’m venturing into the grey shade spectrum. I was always apprehensive about playing a part that required me to look much older than I am, but the script just drew me in,” confirms Gul, whose character works in the fashion industry.

Her director adds that making Gul who has a happy, bubbly vibe, play a negative role will be interesting. “We wanted someone who has never dabbled in this space before and couldn’t think of anyone better than Gul for the part. You start out seeing this innocent girl and then, in the same scene, she will do a U-turn. This is a fresh pairing for Neil bhaiya and Gul too and I can’t wait for the audience to see their chemistry,” says Naman who is neck-deep in prep.

Shooting starts in Alibaug from September 16, with the actress and former pageant queen joining them by the month-end.