After being a part of Aarya and Rohit Shetty’s Sooryavanshi (2021), Sikandar Kher is set to front Dukaan. Writer duo Siddharth Singh and Garima Wahal, whose résumé includes Goliyon Ki Raasleela: Ram-leela (2013) and Toilet - Ek Prem Katha (2017), have graduated to direction with the surrogacy drama. Word is that Kher plays a Gujarati character in the film that has been largely shot in Gujarat.

A source close to the production unit reveals, “Sikandar seamlessly fit into the role as he is fairly familiar with Gujarati culture. Since he has many friends belonging to the community, it helped him pick up the language and dialect quickly. He would sit down with the director duo before certain shots, and improvise the dialogues.”

The film, featuring Monika Panwar of Jamtara: Sabka Number Ayega (2020) fame as the leading lady, went on floors last December. For Kher, saying yes to the project came easy. “When Siddharth and Garima approached me for this role, I was looking forward to doing it. I was excited because it wasn’t something that one would picture me doing. For me, it’s important to do things that no one would expect of me,” says the actor.