Last Friday, less than a week before his 87th birthday, Raveena Tandon’s father Ravi Tandon passed away. The director was the mind behind several hit films, including Khel Khel Mein (1973), Anhonee (1973), Majboor (1974) and Nazrana (1989). While the makers of her yet-untitled next offered to rework the schedule to accommodate Raveena’s absence for a few days, the conscientious actor reported back to the set a day after her father’s last rites.

A source reveals, “Being the professional she is, Raveena didn’t want her personal tragedy to affect her work commitments, or her producers to suffer because of her unavailability. As a producer’s daughter, she understands the value of time and money. So, two days after the tragedy, the actor was back on the set of the film.”

The actor also reported for the look test of Ghudchadhi, a light-hearted fare that reunites her with Sanjay Dutt and Aruna Irani. The source adds that the cast and crew will soon fly out to Jaipur to commence shooting. Dutt, who is currently in the US, is expected to join them on February 22.

Last month, mid-day had reported that Sanjay Dutt and Raveena Tandon — after collaborating on KGF: Chapter 2 — were set to team up for a comedy (Baba-Raveena to bring on the laughs, Jan 19). There has been an interesting addition to the cast since. Senior actor Aruna Irani, who had last worked with Dutt on Haseena Maan Jaayegi (1999), has been roped in for the family comedy, titled Ghudchadhi. Binoy Gandhi’s directorial venture will mark a happy reunion of sorts for the three actors who had worked together on Jeena Marna Tere Sang, three decades ago.

Irani is glad to retrace her steps to a Bollywood movie set after 12 years. “We’ll start shooting in Jaipur from February 17. I played Sanju’s mother Kathy D’Souza in his debut movie, Rocky [1981], and then Sakina who looks after his baby in Jai Vikraanta [1995]. It feels great to get together with Sanju again. When Binoy approached me with the bound script, I loved the story,” says the senior actor.

In the comedy, she plays mother to Dutt’s character, while Parth Samthaan essays the role of her grandson. “My role is colourful, and sees me doing everything from comedy to drama. She is a strong woman who gets angry when she doesn’t get what she wants. She is deeply attached to her son who is devoted to her.”

While she stayed away from movies since 2010, Irani was a regular in television shows, playing key roles in Dekha Ek Khwab and Parichay — Nayee Zindagi Kay Sapno Ka, among others. However, the actor stopped taking up new projects after the Coronavirus pandemic hit. “I stopped working after Yeh Un Dinon Ki Baat Hai got over in mid-2019. It feels good to be back at work after over two years.”