Makers currently on the lookout for male lead; director Saket Chaudhary conducting recce for shoot locations
Avinash Lohana (MUMBAI MIRROR; February 26, 2020)

Mirror had earlier reported (May 3, 2018) that after directing the Irrfan Khan-starrer Hindi Medium, Saket Chaudhary will work on another social-drama laced with humour and a message, to be produced by Sajid Nadiadwala. Saket had confirmed the news but refused to divulge details at the time. Now, we have learnt that Alia Bhatt has been roped in to play the lead role.

According to a source close to the development, the story is set in the Indian heartland. “Saket has been working on the script for a while now. He was keen on casting Alia, who liked the script and has given her nod. She is expected to sign on the dotted line shortly. Meanwhile, hunt for the leading man is still on. The team will finalise the shooting schedule once the entire cast is locked. Saket has also begun initial recce for appropriate locations,” the source informs.

The yet-untitled project will be Alia’s fourth collaboration with Sajid after the Imtiaz Ali-directed Highway (2014), for which she won her first Filmfare Critics Award for Best Actress. It was followed by Abhishek Varman’s 2 States and, more recently, the multi-starrer Kalank. This year, the actress is juggling four projects—Ayan Mukerji’s Brahmastra, Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Gangubai Kathiawadi, SS Rajamouli’s RRR and Karan Johar’s Takht.