Actor’s third outing with Dinesh Vijan is a horror-romedy also featuring Varun Sharma
Roshmila Bhattacharya (MUMBAI MIRROR; December 17, 2018)

On December 8 Mirror had reported that Ayushmann Khurrana and Bhumi Pednekar will be coming together for the third time for Dinesh Vijan’s quirky romcom, Bala. Now, we have learnt that the producer who tied the knot last Thursday, is on his way to a hattrick with another favourite actor, Rajkummar Rao. After Stree and Made In China, the duo will be reuniting for a yet-untitled horror-romedy which rolls early next year.

Confirming the news Dinesh who flew off this morning on his honeymoon, said, “Yes, Raj and I are back and I couldn’t be happier as he’s one of the most talented actors we have today. He springs a surprise with every film and this one will be no different. He plays a small-time goon whose plans go haywire when he discovers that he might be in store for some supernatural encounters. You can be sure he will be as riveting as Stree’s ladies’ tailor, chasing after a ghost.”

Dinesh has also roped in Varun Sharma, a household name as Fukrey’s Choocha. “Varun is in my comic caper, Arjun Patiala, as Diljit Dosanjh’s lackey Onida Singh, a cop with an arrogant swagger and a sarcastic tongue. I was waiting to offer him another role that would bring the laughs,”- exclaims the filmmaker who’s hoping to lock his leading lady once he returns from a two-week vacation. “The female lead is an exciting character, and much like Stree, she’ll be the focal point and game changer for this film too. It’s definitely going to be a laugh riot, off and on the set,” he promises. The film will have the small-town flavour and witty repartee which has become the trademark of Dinesh’s recent work. It will be filmed in Muradabad and while Stree revolved around the legend of a visiting spirit to a temple town for three days in the year, this one takes a quirky look at the underbelly of the Uttar Pradesh city, with a paranormal twist.

Given that Stree is one of the year’s biggest hits, one would assume Amar Kaushik will be directing this film too. “No, Amar will be caught up with Bala which rolls in March and releases in September. Mrigdeep Singh Lamba, the man behind the Fukrey franchise, is the creative director, we are looking for a director,” says Dinesh.

Mrigdeep adds that the two actors are a stellar combination nobody has explored and it will be a delight to watch Raj’s effervescent energy match Varun’s inherent comical innocence.

“Though Raj has proved his comic timing with Bareilly Ki Barfi and Stree, here he will have to shed every bit of himself and get under the skin of this self-proclaimed village hero who’s actually a fool. As opposed to Stree which was a horror-comedy, this one is a horror-romedy, the story of two village idiots stuck in a frightful situation but whose foolhardy shenanigans never stop. Though an out-and-out laugh riot, the horror sequences are spine-chilling as the legend associated with this story makes you stop and check if it has happened somewhere around you as well,” he says.

Dinesh who is also working on the Stree sequel reiterates that this is a totally new concept and another creative challenge for him. “But as they say, behind every successful man in a woman and now with my real-life stree Pramita with me, I can really push the envelope,” he signs off with a laugh.