A spate of actioners later, Sidharth Malhotra is in the mood to explore romance again with his next, tentatively titled Param Sundari. We’ve heard the actor began shooting Tushar Jalota’s directorial venture in Nerul earlier this week. The first schedule will run for the next two weeks, with leading lady Janhvi Kapoor joining the shoot in early January.

Earlier, mid-day had reported that the love story sees Malhotra essay the role of a suave business tycoon hailing from Delhi to Kapoor’s free-spirited artist from Kerala (When north meets south, Oct 27). Sources tell us that in the ongoing leg, the director intends to shoot key scenes depicting the male lead’s emotional journey.

An insider reveals, “The Nerul shoot is crucial for setting up the protagonist’s backstory. Kharghar and Nerul will be the unit’s locations for the next few days, as Tushar cans emotional scenes featuring Sidharth. After Janhvi reports to the set in January, they will film the pair’s romantic sequences. Following the Mumbai stint, the director has lined up extensive schedules in Kerala and Delhi.”

The source adds that the rom-com, which marks the actors’ first collaboration, is part of a larger on-screen universe being developed by producer Dinesh Vijan, outside of his horror comedy universe.