With his debut film Nadaaniyan behind him and two movies in post-production, Ibrahim Ali Khan isn’t wasting any time commencing work on his next. Sources close to the production reveal that the actor is set to star in a love story opposite Rasha Thadani, who, like Khan, made her debut earlier this year.

While the name of the director remains under wraps, insiders say that the two leads have begun prepping for the yet-untitled movie.

“Ibrahim and Rasha have been doing reading sessions and workshops. The makers were clear that they didn’t want only a glamorous pair, but two actors who could tap into the awkward, exhilarating energy of first love. Rasha and Ibrahim clicked from the first meeting,” shares a production house insider.

The love story will be Khan’s second attempt at the genre after the widely criticized Nadaaniyan. A source shares, “While he debuted with a rom-com, Ibrahim will be seen in intense roles in Sarzameen, and Diler that features him as a marathoner. After those two outings, this film with a coming-of-age arc will focus on the softer and more relatable side of him.”

The shoot is expected to begin in October and wrap up early next year.

Should it be London or Mumbai? That has been a dilemma for the makers of Diler, led by Ibrahim Ali Khan. While Kunal Deshmukh’s directorial venture was to roll in London, the team changed its plans in August in the wake of the UK riots and decided to shift the shoot to Mumbai (From Queen’s city to Maximum City, Aug 20). Now, with the situation having stabilized in the British capital, we’ve heard that the makers have reverted to their original plan. The sports drama’s shoot is scheduled to begin in the UK this month.

What made them change their mind again? Apparently, director Deshmukh was not convinced about recreating London’s certain settings in Mumbai.

A source tells us, “Diler revolves around the life of a marathoner. London is integral to the story, and there is a crucial marathon sequence for which they needed shots of the city. The makers were not convinced with Mumbai after the recce, and did not want to compromise on their vision. With the condition in the UK having improved, the film will roll there this month. The crew is in England and has begun setting up. It will be a straight one-month schedule till Diwali.”

Some patch scenes will be shot in Mumbai in November.

Diler marks the second film of Khan, who is set to make his debut with Sarzameen that also stars Kajol.

There appears to have been a change in the filming plans of Ibrahim Ali Khan’s Diler. Director Kunal Deshmukh’s sports drama was slated to have a long schedule in the UK. However, in light of the recent UK riots, producer Dinesh Vijan cancelled the film’s London leg. Now, the production team, led by Deshmukh, is undertaking a last-minute location scout in Mumbai to find suitable alternatives.

The decision is a precautionary measure to ensure the cast and crew’s safety amid the UK unrest that is driven by anti-immigration protests.

A source says, “In July-end, the team did recce and look tests in London. Kunal had lined up a straight schedule during which significant portions of the film would have been canned. But after the situation worsened, the makers felt it would be very expensive to hire exhaustive security. For Dinesh, his unit’s safety is paramount. So, he scrapped the London leg and instructed his team to consider domestic locations.”

The recce is underway in Mumbai. “The director intends to kick off the latest leg in first week of September,” adds the source. Diler, reportedly centred on a marathoner, is Khan’s second project. He is gearing up for his Bollywood debut with Sarzameen, which also stars Kajol and Prithviraj Sukumaran.

Actors Saif Ali Khan and Amrita Singh’s son, Ibrahim Ali Khan, is set to debut with director Kayoze Irani’s Sarzameen along with actors Kajol and Prithviraj Sukumaran. Before his first film’s release, Ibrahim has already started working on his next project — a sports drama, titled Diler.

A source close to the production tells us, “He shot for the film in Chandigarh for around 10 days. Kunal Deshmukh has directed him in the sports drama, which is based on a marathon player and the next schedule will be held in Himachal Pradesh.”

Going on to clarify that the film is “not a biopic” on a sports personality, the source adds, “It’s a fictional story about an athlete who doesn’t take his talent seriously, until life makes him realize that he has taken things for granted.”

During the shoot, Ibrahim wasn’t joined by any big names, “as it was a demo to understand how things would be between the director and the actors”.

The source goes on to say, “Ibrahim’s performance looks very promising. There is stark resemblance with Saif in terms of his acting, mannerism and expressions.”