Actor hopes to resume next in Nov, then confront Aayush Sharma, reunite with Sajid Nadiadwala and roar as Tiger
Himesh Mankad (MUMBAI MIRROR; August 5, 2020)

Mirror (Feb 20) was the first to report that Salman Khan will be playing an upright Sikh cop in LoveYatri director Abhiraj Minawala’s next, which features Aayush Sharma as a gangster. The film was to roll in Delhi in April, but the Coronavirus-triggered lockdown played spoil-sport. During the lockdown, Salman stayed put with Abhiraj and writer Hussain Dalal, who has penned films like Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani, 2 States, Jawaani Jaaneman and Baaghi 2, in his farm in Panvel working on the script which is now locked. Titled Guns Of North, it will be shot in 90 days once life gets back to normal.

According to a source close to the development, the film is based on the Marathi hit, Mulshi Pattern, recommended to Salman by his friend, actor-filmmaker Mahesh Manjrekar. “While in the original, Upendra Limaye’s cop was on screen for just 20 minutes, this time around, the script has been rewritten, to focus on the confrontation between Salman and Aayush, who play cop and gangster. He has almost 50-55 days work,” informed the source, adding that the extended cameo has now become a full-fledged role.

The shooting dates are yet to be decided because Salman’s first priority is to complete and release the Prabhudheva-directed action thriller, Radhe. “Around 10 days of shoot still remains. Now, they are contemplating letting go of a song which is not integral to the narrative. Salman is still at his farm and looking to resume work on Radhe in October or November. It’s a big screen entertainer, so the makers are in no hurry to release the film. If they can get back to action in the next two-three months, they will target the Republic Day weekend. If they miss that, their next consideration will be Eid 2021,” shared the source.

After Radhe and Guns Of North, Salman will move to the Sajid Nadiadwala production, Kabhi Eid Kabhi Diwali, directed by Farhad Samji, and then, towards the end of next year, to Tiger 3, which will reunite him with Katrina Kaif. “Salman has a tentative calendar in mind, but he won’t risk his health or that of his cast and crew for any work commitment. He is waiting for the case count to reduce and the vaccine to arrive before taking any decision. But after a much needed break of more than seven months, there will be four back-to-back Salman starrers. Meanwhile, he has locked two-three more scripts for his production house, which he will announce once the cast is locked,” the source signed off.