Adding Aamir Khan’s production, the tentatively titled Batwara 1947, to his filmography has been a moment of pride for Ali Fazal. But being part of an intense Partition drama takes a toll. The actor admitted that it wasn’t easy to leave the story behind after wrapping the film.

“It’s not something you can switch off from easily at the end of the day. The role stayed [with me] as it’s heavy, internal, and required sustained emotional investment,” he said.

Fortunately, he found a light-hearted offering in Lust Stories 3, giving him just the right contrast after the intense movie. To Fazal, director Shakun Batra’s segment with Radhikka Madan offered a different creative rhythm, allowing him to explore more personal shades.

Speaking about the contrast, the actor added, “You should constantly put yourself in uncomfortable spaces, and this year was [just that]. What excites me is this constant shift in energy. I’m enjoying that directors are making us see ourselves in a different light.”

Riding high on the hit status of Border 2, Sunny Deol is set to juggle five releases this year, with four films arriving in quick succession. While Gabru is slated for May 8, followed by Ikka, which may stream on Netflix from June, another of Deol’s movies, Soorya, has finally been completed and the team is looking at a June or July release. Aamir Khan’s Lahore 1947 is scheduled for August 13, while Ramayana is expected to arrive in November.

A trade source tells mid-day, “It is a golden year for Sunny Deol with five confirmed releases lined up. Though each genre is different, will the audiences be able to take in so many of his movies at the same time? Some movies may need to be reshuffled. Though Gabru which was being planned as a direct-to-OTT release will now arrive in cinemas on May 8. Described as the Satyakaam [1969] of Sunny’s career, it has been directed by Shashank Udapurkar and has Salman Khan in a cameo. Sunny plays a middle-aged family man who wants to live the rest of his life meaningfully through his service to humanity.”

Producer Deepak Mukut says of Soorya, “The film is complete. Now it’s in the post-production phase. Once that gets done, we will finalize the release date. We are looking for a good date in the month of June or July, as we want to showcase it well.”

Sanjay Leela Bhansali builds his on-screen world perfectly and patiently. Love & War is no exception. Word in the industry is that the Ranbir Kapoor, Alia Bhatt, and Vicky Kaushal-starrer, which went on floors in November 2024, still has 70 days of filming left.

The love triangle is currently being shot at Film City in Goregaon, Mumbai. A source close to the production told mid-day, “We have over two months of shoot remaining, with six songs yet to be filmed. Nearly 35 days have been blocked only for the songs. As with any Bhansali film, these aren’t quick tracks; they have been envisioned as elaborate sequences mounted on a grand canvas. These period-specific songs will need a lot of prep before being filmed.”

Naturally, the delay in completion has impacted its release plans. Love & War was earlier targeting an Independence Day release. However, Aamir Khan recently announced that his production, Lahore 1947, will arrive in cinemas on August 13.

“Independence Day was an attractive window, but Love & War’s team would have to race against time to meet that deadline. Plus, with Lahore 1947 booking the date, it didn’t make sense to crowd the space. Bhansali would prefer a clear run for his love story,” added the source.

The movie’s new release date is yet to be finalized.

Mumbai: Bollywood's getting ready for a blockbuster year. Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan, Aamir Khan, Ajay Devgn, Sunny Deol, Ranbir Kapoor all have releases lined up, in what's going to be the most superstar-heavy lineup of films since before the pandemic. A broad range of big-budget Hindi titles are scheduled to hit theatres, complemented by a strong slate of regional movies and Hollywood offerings.

Down south, Rajnikanth, Vijay, Yash, Prabhas, and Kamal Haasan have movies coming up, apart from which Mammootty and Mohanlal will be seen together in a movie (Patriot) for the first time in 17 years.

Producers, distributors, and trade analysts are predicting a record haul, extending the buoyant momentum after a reassuring 2025. Net box office receipts may surge 25-30%, reaching Rs. 14,052 crore to Rs. 14,614 crore in 2026, from Rs. 11,242 crore last year, going by some of the more conservative estimates.

"2026 could be the year of highest box office collection for the Indian film industry," said Vikram Malhotra, founder and CEO, Abundantia Entertainment. "Beyond the conventional big-star films, 2026 will be about films which will connect deeply with audiences. I see sleeper hits become monsters at the box office. In addition, genre experiments will find takers."

A key reason for the industry optimism is the wide array of movies lined up this year. These include Ramayana, Love & War, Lahore 1947, King, Battle Of Galwan, Drishyam 3, Dhurandhar 2 and Border 2. Highly anticipated regional films include Jailer 2, Jana Nayagan, Toxic. Hollywood films such as The Odyssey, Dune: Part Three, Moana, Avengers: Doomsday, and Spider-Man: Brand New Day are also expected to boost box office receipts.

"Even by conservative estimates, the Indian box office collection may grow at least in the range of 25-30% in 2026 compared to 2025 because of diverse offerings across Hindi, regional and Hollywood," said Girish Johar, film producer and industry expert.

The number of superstar releases is another reason for the optimism. "2026 is indeed a big year," said Navin Shah, joint MD, EMC Solutions Worldwide, a leading company in branded entertainment. "It is important to note that most superstars such as Ranbir Kapoor, Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan, Aamir Khan, and Sunny Deol have either one or two releases in a single year. This is happening after a long time."

Trade analysts predict the share of Hindi films in net box office collection to climb to 45-50% this year, from a historical average of 35-40%. Premium ticket pricing will also drive growth.

"There is at least one notable film which is either VFX-driven spectacle or has a big superstar in every quarter of 2026," said Shaaminder Malik, film distributor and trade analyst. "This provides room for premium ticket pricing, especially for formats such as IMAX and 4DX, thereby boosting total box office collection."

Growing Gen Z attendance at movie theatres is also boosting industry confidence, said producers. "Apart from a fantastic lineup, a big positive for the industry is the theatre attendance of Gen Z audience, which increased by 25% in 2025. This trend is likely to continue in 2026," said Sunir Kheterpal, producer, Athena E&M.

For Ali Fazal, the past two months were all about two cities and two different stories. Since October, the actor was filming the last leg of Rajkumar Santoshi’s Lahore 1947 in Mumbai and Punjab, juggling it with the Varanasi schedule of Mirzapur: The Film. Last week, he wrapped up his portions in the Sunny Deol, Preity Zinta, and Shabana Azmi-led period drama that is set against the backdrop of India’s partition.

Reflecting on being part of the Aamir Khan production, Fazal said that the experience surpassed his expectations.

“Working under Rajkumar Santoshi sir’s direction has been a masterclass, and sharing screen space with powerhouses like Sunny sir, Preity ma’am, and Shabana ji has been an honour. Each day on set felt like a lesson in humility and dedication to the craft,” he said.

What made the project all the more special is knowing that it told an important story.

The actor added, “Lahore 1947 is rooted in our history, but carries emotions that are timeless and speaks to everyone. This story reminds us of the resilience of the human spirit.”

Last November, mid-day reported that Aamir Khan had suggested some changes to his production, Lahore 1947, after watching its first cut (History class again for hero, Nov 27). Looks like it’s time for director Rajkumar Santoshi and leading man Sunny Deol to implement Khan’s suggestions. We have learnt that by next week, Deol will be back on the set of Lahore 1947 for what will be the last leg of the period drama that explores the emotional journey of people caught in the turmoil of India’s partition.

The unit will head to Punjab for the schedule, the prep for which is underway. A source reveals, “Sunny and Santoshi sir will shoot most of these newly envisioned sequences in real locations of Punjab. The shoot will begin on October 10 and go on for 12 days.”

While Lahore 1947 also stars Preity Zinta and Shabana Azmi, the upcoming leg will involve only Deol, as other primary cast members are said to have finished shooting their portions. 

When the movie went on floors in February 2024, the makers were eyeing a 2025 release. An insider explains, “But as Aamir, Sunny, and Santoshi sat down to discuss the film’s progress, they unanimously agreed that it was more important to have a superior quality product than compromise on the vision for a quick release.”

The film is now readying for a 2026 release, with its post-production underway.

Inarguably, Sunny Deol has a promising line-up of films with Lahore 1947, Border 2, and Ramayana. Amid this, the senior actor, however, hasn’t forgotten his prior commitment. Deol, who had shot a chunk of Soorya in 2022, returned to the world of M Padmakumar’s thriller in August as they began filming the climax. He aims to wrap up the movie by mid-September.

An official adaptation of the Malayalam film Joseph (2018), Soorya — which had gone on floors in Jaipur in the summer of 2022 ­— sees Deol as a retired cop, who unexpectedly gets pulled into a murder investigation that leads him to discover an organ harvesting racket. Talking to mid-day, producer Deepak Mukut said that they are currently filming the climactic action sequences with Deol, Ravi Kishan, and Manish Wadhwa in Vile Parle.

“We are shooting a massive action scene on a set, reflecting a hospital, constructed at the Golden Tobacco Factory. Action director Ravi Varma is executing it along with a unit of over 350 people. It’s a hand-to-hand combat scene featuring Sunny,” he shared.

From September 1, the unit will shift their focus to a critical courtroom sequence. Mukut added, “In the film, Sunny has to fight a case. So, he is back to his Damini [1993] avatar, doing lots of action and mouthing dramatic dialogues as he seeks justice. This leg will be filmed on a set, in Naigaon perhaps.” 

Soon after, the unit will fly out to Jaipur for the final 10-day schedule. “After that, we will begin post-production. We may release a teaser and trailer this year as we plan to release Soorya in early 2026.”

A three-year wait to wrap up the project can be discouraging, but Mukut noted that he found a supportive collaborator in the leading man. Even as Deol was busy with Jaat, Lahore 1947, and Border 2, he was involved in the movie’s creative process. The producer added, “It’s all about being patient. I had other commitments too, including The Bhootnii.”

Rukhsar Rehman, who began her acting career at the age of 17, was once considered a rising star. She stepped away from the industry due to family pressure. Rehman returned in 2005 with a new resolve, starting from scratch with auditions, rejections, and small roles.

“Acting has and will always be my passion,” she says. “I feel I have done well. But as an actor, we always feel, jitna mile utna kam hai. We are always hungry for more. Everybody knows me in the industry now, irrespective of how small the roles have been. It is a satisfying feeling when people reach out to me with projects.”

Over the years, Rehman built a solid body of work with films such as Sarkar (2005), God Tussi Great Ho (2008), Shaitan (2011), PK (2014), Uri: The Surgical Strike (2019), 83 (2021), and numerous television shows.

Now, she has two films lined up — Lahore 1947, directed by Rajkumar Santoshi and starring Sunny Deol, and Uttar Da Puttar alongside Annu Kapoor. While she remains tight-lipped about the former, Rehman reveals that working with Santoshi was a fulfilling experience.

“He is a sharp filmmaker, and very clear about his vision and how a scene needs to look. Many directors [keep their options open], which is not a bad thing to do, but sir is confident about how his characters would feel and react.”

Set during the Partition of India, Lahore 1947 follows the journey of Sikander Mirzaon, played by Deol. Rehman, who has wrapped the period drama, shares, “Rajkumar sir’s Andaz Apna Apna [1994] is one of my favourites. He is full of stories and anecdotes. During the shoot, I’d often ask him to narrate shoot stories from his earlier movies. During lunch, on set, he would always insist that we all sit together. I am happy to work with him.”

Rukhsar Rehman made her film debut in 1992 with a lead role in Deepak Anand’s Yaad Rakhegi Duniya opposite Aditya Pancholi. She also appeared in J K Bihari’s Inteha Pyar Ki (1992) opposite late Rishi Kapoor. In one of her interviews, Rehman confessed that she was offered Saugandh (1991), Roja (1992), Baazigar (1993), and 1942: A Love Story (1994), but was unable to take up the offers.

Even though a ceasefire is in place between India and Pakistan, the after-effects of the military conflicts can be felt across the board, including in Bollywood. The buzz in the industry is that several high-profile projects are being reviewed or undergoing significant rewrites to remove any references to Pakistan from their scripts.

Among the first to be impacted is Kajol and Prithviraj Sukumaran’s political thriller Sarzameen. The team is now reworking key sequences. “The film never explicitly made a reference to Pakistan, but it’s set in Kashmir, and certain scenes were interpreted as politically sensitive in the current climate. They were to release the film on May 30, but now, they are redubbing some parts,” said a source close to the production.

Another movie that must determine how to navigate the situation is Sunny Deol’s Lahore 1947. Sources shared that Rajkumar Santoshi’s directorial venture, centred on a Muslim family relocating to Lahore after Partition, is being internally reviewed.

An insider said, “The film is in sharp contrast with the sentiment of the nation and is being re-looked at. The team needs to decide how to make it work without compromising the story or being insensitive, given the current situation.”

Pathaan (2023) and Tiger 3 (2023), the last two offerings from Yash Raj Films’ spy universe, had prominent characters hailing from Pakistan. For their future films, we have heard that many writers will take a cue from Pathaan, where John Abraham’s antagonist Jim creates his own terrorist network with no links to any country. “The approach is to shift focus to shadowy terror networks and rogue agencies without geographical identifiers,” said a source.

When mid-day reached out to YRF amid rumours that their upcoming films, War 2 and Alpha, are being reviewed in light of recent events, the spokesperson said, “There is no truth to any of these claims floating. Alpha, War 2, and Pathaan 2 have no Pakistan connection. War 2 and Alpha have already been shot and there are no changes being made because there are no changes to be made. Tiger is an Indian spy, Zoya is married to an Indian spy. So, there is no question of the [Tiger] franchise being in any uncertainty.”

Not all movies with a war backdrop are under the scanner, though. Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Love & War — starring Ranbir Kapoor, Alia Bhatt, and Vicky Kaushal — remains untouched. A trade analyst explains, “Bhansali has positioned his story in a timeless, almost mythical space. The film is set between 1960 and 1965, with the wars serving only as the backdrop. The love story takes centre-stage.”

A day after Pakistani actor Mawra Hocane was removed from Sanam Teri Kasam’s (2016) cover on music apps, Mahira Khan has met the same fate with Raees (2017). The cover of the film’s album on Spotify now features only Shah Rukh Khan. Meanwhile, the music of Fawad Khan’s Abir Gulaal has been pulled down from Spotify and Apple Music.

Director S Shankar may have had a misfire last year with Indian 2. But the director, known for his visual spectacles, blends politics and action again in Game Changer. Ram Charan plays an IAS officer determined to battle corruption and promote fair elections in the Telugu action thriller scheduled for a 

January 10 release.

With franchise films becoming a ticket to success in 2024, Ajay Devgn has lined up two sequels this year. Director Raj Kumar Gupta’s Raid 2 is set to release on May 1, coinciding with Maharashtra Day. The film sees Devgn reprise his role as IRS officer Amay Patnaik, who conducts another high-stakes income tax raid. The cast includes Riteish Deshmukh, Vaani Kapoor, and Rajat Kapoor. The superstar also has the rom-com, De De Pyaar De 2, in which he reunites with his Shaitaan (2024) co-star R Madhavan.

A new year, and there is a new instalment of Housefull. Housefull 5, led by Akshay Kumar and Riteish Deshmukh, comes five years after the last instalment. Tarun Mansukhani’s directorial venture promises to have everything you expect from the franchise—read an ensemble cast, a gag a minute and a wafer-thin plot. This one, also starring Abhishek Bachchan, Fardeen Khan, Jacqueliene Fernandez, and Nargis Fakhri, is largely set on a 

luxury cruise.

After Sardar Udham (2021) and Sam Bahadur (2023), Vicky Kaushal leads his third biopic, this time playing Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, the son of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. Based on the novel Chhava by Shivaji Sawant, Laxman Utekar’s historical drama depicts Sambhaji Maharaj as a fierce warrior who upheld the Maratha legacy during his reign in the 17th century. Rashmika Mandanna portrays Yesubai Bhonsale, Sambhaji’s wife.

You will definitely not miss Akshay Kumar this year, because the superstar has four releases lined up. This Karan Johar production, based on Indian lawyer and statesman C Sankaran Nair, chronicles how the lawyer challenged the British empire to acknowledge the Jallianwala Bagh massacre. Directed by Karan Singh Tyagi and also starring Ananya Panday, it is an adaptation of the book, The Case that Shook the Empire. Kumar will also be seen in the Republic Day release, Skyforce, and Jolly LLB 3.

A female spy is finally headlining a film in the YRF spy universe. Alia Bhatt joins the on-screen espionage world that is populated by Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan, Hrithik Roshan, Deepika Padukone and Katrina Kaif. Joining Bhatt in Shiv Rawail’s directorial venture is Sharvari, who caught people’s attention with Munjya last year. Alpha is scheduled for a Christmas 2025 release.

Two of the most popular superstars of the current crop, Hrithik Roshan and Jr NTR are set to battle it out in the Independence Day release, War 2. Roshan returns as Kabir, the R&AW agent who went rogue in the 2019 blockbuster, War. The sequel to the spy thriller comes with new faces in front of and behind the camera. While RRR (2022) star Jr NTR makes his highly anticipated Bollywood debut, director Ayan Mukerji takes the directorial baton from Siddharth Anand. Added to the mix are Kiara Advani, and a potential crossover with Shah Rukh Khan’s Pathaan and Salman Khan’s Tiger.

In June, we’ll witness the reunion of two icons. More than 35 years after they first collaborated on Nayakan (1987), superstar Kamal Haasan and director Mani Ratnam have reunited for Thug Life. The Tamil gangster action drama features a pan-India cast, including Trisha Krishnan, Ashok Selvan, Aishwarya Lekshmi, Pankaj Tripathi, Sanya Malhotra, Ali Fazal and Rohit Saraf. To top it all, Oscar winner AR Rahman, who composed for Ratnam’s Ponniyin Selvan 1 and 2, has lent the score for the upcoming film.

Following his romantic turn in Teri Baaton Mein Aisa Uljha Jiya last year, Shahid Kapoor is in the mood for mayhem. He turns a no-nonsense cop in the January release, Deva. Expect high-octane action sequences and a rising body count in this action thriller that sees Malayalam filmmaker Rosshan Andrrews foraying into Hindi cinema.

It’s the year of Varun Dhawan’s return to the romance genre. In April, the actor will bring Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari, also starring Janhvi Kapoor, Sanya Malhotra and Rohit Saraf. It reunites Varun with his Dulhania franchise director Shashank Khaitan. He will follow it up with Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai, marking his fourth collaboration with director-father David Dhawan.

Lahore 1947 is a case of something old and something new. While the period drama marks the fourth collaboration between actor Sunny Deol and director Rajkumar Santoshi, it marks the maiden union of the leading man with producer Aamir Khan. Also starring Preity Zinta, the film explores the emotional and physical journey of people caught in the turmoil of the Partition.

When a perfectionist like Aamir Khan is involved, every scene is scrutinised and every detail fine-tuned. So, it’s not surprising that the actor-filmmaker has suggested a few revisions for his next production, Lahore 1947, led by Sunny Deol. We’ve heard that Deol, who recently wrapped up the shoot of Jaat, is heading back to the set of the Rajkumar Santoshi-helmed historical drama.

A source close to the production reveals, “Aamir was going through the first cut of Lahore 1947 and felt that a few sequences could benefit from more dramatic storytelling. He shared his insight with Santoshi, and they unanimously agreed to bring in additional shots that can elevate the story’s visual intensity.”

Lahore 1947, also starring Preity Zinta, explores the emotional and physical journey of people caught in the turmoil of the Partition. Given the important story at its centre, Deol readily aligned his date diary with the patch shoot, which will commence in the second week of December

A crew member says, “A song is being incorporated to add to the grandeur of the narrative. For this, a set will be constructed at Mehboob Studios, beginning December 1. The team is looking at a 10 to 15-day shoot, which will include filming the song as well as some additional shots that will amplify the effect of crucial scenes. Sunny sir will wrap the patch shoot before going to Kashmir for the Border 2 shoot.”

It’s almost pack-up time for Sunny Deol on Lahore 1947. On Tuesday, director Rajkumar Santoshi will call it a wrap on his period drama, which went on floors in Mumbai in February. Sources tell us that the actor-director duo had an intensive schedule that has brought them to the finish line.

“It has been a non-stop 70-day schedule. Over the last few weeks, the unit was shooting the climax, which involved an elaborate train sequence, at Film City,” says a source close to the production.

Backed by Aamir Khan, Lahore 1947 also stars Preity Zinta, Shabana Azmi, Karan Deol, Ali Fazal and Mithun Chakraborty. As soon as the shoot is completed on August 12, Santoshi will dive headlong into editing.

“There will be a few days of patch work, but the principal photography is almost done. They are on track for a January 2025 release. Raj-ji is excited about what he has been able to capture through the film. Besides the climax, he is particularly proud about how the ambitious crowd scenes have shaped up. The team had created two grand sets at Film City and Madh Island for the project,” says the insider.

While the movie marks Deol’s first collaboration with Khan, it is his fourth offering with Santoshi after Ghayal (1990), Damini (1993) and Ghatak (1996).

Actor-couple Richa Chadha and Ali Fazal are expecting the arrival of their first child in July. While Chadha, who was recently seen in Heeramandi, told us that she will be on maternity leave till October, we have now learnt that the soon-to-be dad is also set to take a month-long paternity break.

Fazal has three films in hand that he is currently working on — filmmaker Anurag Basu’s Metro...In Dino, Thug Life with actor Kamal Haasan and Lahore 1947 with actor Sunny Deol.

A source close to the actor informs us, “Ali is going to wrap up all his work by June 30 and will then take four to five weeks off to focus on Richa and their soon-to-be born child.”

Talking about the status of all his films, the source adds, “Ali has four to five days of shoot left for Metro...In Dino, and Lahore 1947 is almost up for completion. As for Thug Life, he will be wrapping up the majority of his shoot before the break. Only one schedule of the film will be left, which Ali will complete in August.”

Chadha and Fazal announced their pregnancy in February, and the couple was actively working throughout the phase. Recently, in a chat, the soon-to-be mum told us about her husband that “he is very hands-on, and he is timing his work commitments also accordingly”.

She added, “I think fathers should always be around. It’s not just about helping the mother, but also about getting time with the child.”

The bad news is that the Writers Guild of America strike, which took place between May and September 2023, halted Ali Fazal’s productions in Hollywood. The good news is that it opened up his schedule and gave him the opportunity to be part of many Bollywood projects. The actor is now looking forward to the release of his offerings that include the third season of Mirzapur, Metro...In Dino, Thug Life alongside Kamal Hassan, and Lahore 1947.

Only days after the trailer of Mirzapur 3 was released, Fazal says that following last year’s setback, 2024 has become one of the best years of his career. “This year has turned out to be quite extraordinary for me, despite the global writers’ strike. I had to take a break from international work. But I’m thrilled to be part of Anurag sir’s film, Mani Ratnam sir’s Thug Life, as well as Lahore 1947. It gave me a chance to explore a variety of roles in a short time,” shares the actor.

While Metro...In Dino has an ensemble cast that includes Sara Ali Khan, Aditya Roy Kapur and Fatima Sana Shaikh, Rajkumar Santoshi’s film will see him share screen space with Sunny Deol and Preity Zinta.

Fazal’s pursuit for novel stories was also rewarded earlier this year when his maiden production Girls Will Be Girls bagged two awards at the Sundance Film Festival.

“We’ve also announced five other projects. Our idea is to nurture new talents and ourselves. This is also a time where we are nurturing our personal lives,” beams the actor, who is expecting his first child with actor-wife Richa Chadha.

What’s next for Sunny Deol after the smashing success of Gadar 2: The Katha Continues (2023), and a promising project in Lahore 1947? From what we hear, the actor will face the camera for Soorya, a crime drama that he had started in 2022. Sources tell us that Deol plans to wrap up Kamal Mukut’s production by November after which he will turn to Border 2.

Soorya, directed by M Padmakumar, is an official adaptation of the Malayalam film, Joseph (2018). The remake will see Deol as a retired cop, who gets pulled in to investigate a murder case that leads him to uncover an organ harvesting racket. While the film had originally gone on floors in Jaipur in 2022, the team hopes to regroup as soon as Deol wraps up Lahore 1947.

Mukut’s son Deepak says, “We have completed over 80 per cent of the film. Sunny will complete the shoot very soon.”

The two-year wait must not have been easy on the makers, but Deepak says one needs to be patient. “He was busy with other projects, and we were trying to work out the dates. We have enjoyed a wonderful relationship with the Deol family since ages, and it’s fine that Sunny couldn’t shoot for our film earlier. We understand his compulsions.”

Deepak reveals that Deol had watched Joseph after he was offered the remake, and immediately came on board with a simple request—that the film be made as gritty as the original. “Sunny is also involved in the creative process. His relationship with us is far more important [than a film]. We’ll wait for him.”

Come June, Junaid Khan and Khushi Kapoor will report to the set of their yet-untitled next to be helmed by Advait Chandan. The film, an adaptation of Tamil rom-com Love Today (2022), was earlier slated to roll in April (That sweet summer romance, March 12), but its pre-production took longer than expected. 

“Advait has done exhaustive pre-production on the film. He has been locking locations over the past month. Now with the casting of secondary characters finalized, the film is ready to start. The first leg will be shot in Mumbai,” reveals a source.

With the adaptation marking one of Junaid’s first few releases, producer-father Aamir Khan is wholly invested in the project. We hear the superstar, who is shooting Sitaare Zameen Par with director R S Prasanna, has been taking regular updates on the rom-com’s progress.

The source adds, “On Sunday, Aamir was shooting at a Powai five-star. He was juggling it with Junaid’s project, as he locked some final details of the latter. With his other production, Lahore 1947, also underway, Aamir is ensuring that his banner doles out more films.”

Director Rajkumar Santoshi teamed up with actor Aamir Khan in 1994 for the comedy film Andaz Apna Apna, which went on to become a cult classic. The duo is reuniting 30 years later, this time with Khan stepping in as the producer for Santoshi’s upcoming film Lahore 1947, starring Sunny Deol.

All praise for the actor-producer, Santoshi tells us, “Aamir monitors every progress of the film. He keeps a watch on everything that is happening. He is a hands-on producer, and I am amazed by him.” The film also stars Preity G Zinta, Shabana Azmi and Sunny’s son, Karan Deol.

Santoshi is particularly impressed by how Khan, despite juggling multiple projects in the capacity of a producer and actor, is making time to come on the sets of his film. Besides Lahore 1947, the Laal Singh Chaddha (2022) actor is producing a film starring his son, Junaid Khan, and another with comedian Vir Das. All three films are currently on floors. Meanwhile, he is also shooting for Sitaare Zameen Par, co-starring actor Genelia Deshmukh.

“Yet, he takes out time for everything. He is always available on a phone call, checking progress and inspiring the team. Whenever he has time, he drops by on the sets and motivates everybody. He is a great artiste and a great producer,” says the director.

Along with boasting some big names like Aamir Khan as producer, filmmaker Rajkumar Santoshi’s next Lahore 1947 will also see the father and son, actors Sunny Deol and Karan Deol collaborating on-screen for the first time.

Talking about adding Karan to the cast, Santoshi says, “I always saw promise in Karan. I spoke to Aamir, and he said yes to auditioning him. Karan, too, came out with flying colours. I am confident that he will deliver and will stand strong opposite Sunny Deol [in the role].” So does that mean the two will have a face-off on screen? “Yes,” says Santoshi, adding, “There are some dramatic situations [between the two] in the film.”

Santoshi also tells us about papa Deol’s reaction to casting Karan. “Sunny has faith in my abilities as a director to extract a good performance from my actors. It’s important to bring Karan’s potential in front of the audience, so Sunny was very happy,” says the filmmaker.

Lahore 1947 also marks actor Preity G Zinta’s return to Bollywood. Having shot with her for 25 days, Santoshi is all praise for her: “Preity is coming back after a gap, and she is a wonderful actor and has performed well.”

From Border 2 to Gadar 3, Sunny Deol is amused by the many sequel speculations doing the rounds. Gadar 2 (2023) was a blockbuster, which has led the rumour mill to work in overdrive.

“People like to speculate,” says the actor. Clearing the air, he adds, “These rumours have been there since Gadar 2 released; ‘Yeh part 2 kar raha hai, voh part 2 kar raha hai’. Arrey, kitni sequels kar raha hoon? Har cheez ke rumours hain. I will announce it myself.”

The 66-year-old’s next, Lahore 1947, will be directed by Rajkumar Santoshi. “Gadar 2 was successful, so this film is happening,” says Deol, adding, “We’ve been working on this film for the past 15-17 years, but it wasn’t happening. Gadar 2 opened a lot of doors for us. People have seen us (Santoshi and Deol) working together in three films in different genres, and all were masterpieces.”

They have worked on Ghayal (1990), Damini (1993) and Ghatak (1996). While signing new projects, Deol doesn’t feel “insecure” or think about “people’s expectations” from him. “If I love the subject, I will do the character,” he ends.

An elaborate round of scouting for appropriate locations to film Sunny Deol’s next came to an end after the makers of Lahore 1947 zeroed in on Vrundavan shooting studio at Madh Island.

A source tells mid-day of the film that will be backed by Aamir Khan’s production house, that the makers have set up a refugee camp for the shoot. “[Director] Rajkumar Santoshi has a certain palette and vision in mind for the scenes. This shoot will be different from the ones that have been canned by Aamir Khan Productions. Aamir is certain that the director will run with his vision, and his role will be relegated to that of a producer alone. The first day of shooting is February 12. This week, the team will be working on the logistics,” says the source.