Stating that Karan Johar and he mutually decided to shelve Mr Lele, director Shashank Khaitan says Varun Dhawan-starrer would've been an expensive proposition in the current Coronavirus scenario
Uma Ramasubramanian (MID-DAY; August 17, 2020)

Varun Dhawan and Shashank Khaitan had kicked off 2020 with the announcement of Mr Lele, their third outing after Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania (2014) and Badrinath Ki Dulhania (2017). Only weeks after they had released its poster, it was heard that the comedy had been put on the backburner. Even as the decision broke his heart at the time, Khaitan, in hindsight, admits it was wise to have stalled the project.

"As per our original plan, we were supposed to start filming on March 13. The [suspension of shoots] was announced on March 15. So, the stalling of our film was a blessing in disguise; otherwise, we would have ended up spending a lot more on the pre-production," says the director, asserting that the project will be revived at the right time.

Mr Lele was the actor-director duo’s second venture after Rannbhoomi to be announced amid fanfare, only to be subsequently put on hold. Buzz suggested it was shelved due to the busy date diary of Dhawan and rumoured leading lady Janhvi Kapoor. Quiz him on what went wrong, and he offers an evasive reply. "We were not able to form a flow for the shoot. It was a small film that was to be based in Mumbai, but things were not falling in place. I kept feeling that something is not right. Since Karan [Johar, producer], Varun and I collectively felt it, we decided to hold off the project for the time being."

Avinash Lohana (MUMBAI MIRROR; March 5, 2020)

Mirror was the first to report (November 27, 2019) that Varun Dhawan is reuniting with his Dulhania series director Shashank Khaitan for the third time.

On January 13, the actor unveiled his first look from the comic-thriller, titled Mr Lele, featuring Janhvi Kapoor and Bhumi Pednekar as the female leads. The Karan Johar production was scheduled to go on the floors this month.

Now, we’ve learnt that the project has been put on the back-burner. While one of the reasons is speculated to be an issue with the script, a source close to the development informs that the decision was taken due to scheduling conflicts. “Shashank had begun work on the preproduction, but the actors’ dates aren’t aligning. A new plan for Mr Lele will be worked out at a later stage,” the source informed.

In the film, which was scheduled to be shot extensively in Mumbai, Varun plays a Maharashtrian character for the first time. While speaking to Mirror earlier (January 15, 2020), the actor had revealed that he was looking forward to exploring the comic-thriller genre with Mr Lele, saying, “After reading the script, I called Shashank 109 times in two days.”
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Sources suggest Mr Lele put on hold due to lack of leads' - Janhvi Kapoor and Varun Dhawan's combination dates
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; March 5, 2020)

Varun Dhawan and director Shashank Khaitan had kicked off the new year with the announcement of a new film, Mr Lele. The comedy, marking the duo's third collaboration after Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania (2014) and Badrinath Ki Dulhania (2017), was scheduled to go on floors in the first week of March. However, mid-day has learnt that the makers have now decided to put the film — also featuring Janhvi Kapoor — on the backburner. Reason — the busy date diary of Dhawan and Kapoor.

A source reveals, "It was getting increasingly impossible to get combination dates of the two actors. In the next few weeks, Varun will get busy with Sriram Raghavan's biopic on Arun Khetrapal. On her part, Janhvi will kick off promotions for Gunjan Saxena: The Kargil Girl later this month, followed by a long schedule of Karan Johar's period drama, Takht. The two actors had gone to Khaitan's residence last week to find a way out, but the conversation came to naught. The film could be revived at a later point, but it has been called off for the time being."

Abhishek Banerjee on scouting actors who became big names and working with Varun Dhawan and Kartik Aaryan-Janhvi Kapoor
Akash Bhatnagar (MUMBAI MIRROR; February 12, 2020)

In 2010, Abhishek Banerjee got a head-start in Bollywood as a casting director and went on to scout talent for films like No One Killed Jessica, The Dirty Picture and Gabbar Is Back. It wasn’t until 2018 that he came into his own as an actor, the goofy sidekick Jana in the Rajkummar Rao and Shraddha Kapoor’s horror-comedy Stree. “I was rejected in the audition but Dinesh Vijan (producer) liked my tape better than the guy who was selected,” he shares, adding that a lot of people believed he did the casting for this film as well. “When they call me for meetings, things get awkward when I correct them,” he laughs.

Abhishek is also often mistaken as one of the writers of Anushka Sharma’s horror film Pari though he was not associated with it in any capacity. “I get calls from filmmakers to write scripts. When I tell them it wasn’t me, they accuse me of lying,” he chuckles. Coincidentally, he had teased the real writer of the film (who happens to be his namesake) about the potential confusion but never thought it would come true.

This year, he’s working in two Karan Johar productions—Dostana 2 with Kartik Aaryan and Janhvi Kapoor and Mr Lele, fronted by Varun Dhawan. By his own admission, his innings as an actor started earlier than he had anticipated. “After all this time lapsed, I figured I would start my acting career like Boman Irani (who debuted while in his 40s),” he deadpans, excited to start work with Varun next month. “He has quirks and innocence working for him, like most of my characters. Even Shashank (Khaitan, director) sir insists we rehearse together.”

In Dostana 2, Abhishek joins Kartik and Janhvi, as “a quirky, naïve Punjabi boy”. The second schedule of the film, which marks the film debut of TV actor Lakshya, wrapped up in December.

Besides being associated with some big projects as a casting director, Abhishek also auditioned actors who went on to become big names. “I am proud to say that Siddhant Chaturvedi (MC Sher in Gully Boy) is my find,” he beams. Then, there was Vicky Kaushal, long before he won the National Award for playing a braveheart army man in Uri: The Surgical Strike. “When I was an associate, I auditioned him for a part in (Raj Kumar Gupta’s Emraan Hashmi, Vidya Balan-starrer) Ghanchakkar. Everyone was intrigued by him as he was (action director) Sham Kaushal’s son. I instantly knew that he’d become a star one day. Also, before sharing screen space with Rajkummar, I had tested him for a role in the 2010 film Knock Out, which was eventually played by Apoorva Lakhia.”

Actor plays a quintessential Maharashtrian for the first time in Shashank Khaitan’s comic-thriller, which goes on the floors in March
Himesh Mankad (MUMBAI MIRROR; January 17, 2020)

Mirror was the first to report (November 27, 2019) that Varun Dhawan is reuniting with his Dulhania series director Shashank Khaitan on a film which would see him team up with Janhvi Kapoor and Bhumi Pednekar for the first time. Soon after, we revealed that the film is a comic-thriller titled Mr Lele. Now, Mirror has learnt that the movie goes on the floors in early March and will see Varun play a quintessential Maharashtrian character for the first time.

According to a source close to the development, the actor will undergo training to get the accent right for his quirky turn. “Workshops begin sometime in February and Varun is kicked to explore a new space with the film. There will be mysterious undertones to all the central characters, while the screenplay has a lot of situational humour and romance. A major chunk of the film will be shot at real locations in Mumbai,” the source added.

The Karan Johar production, which is gearing up for a January 1, 2021 release, is currently in the pre-production stage. While interacting with Mirror (January 15), Varun had described Mr Lele as a “very tight script” and confessed to have called his director, “109 times in two days to get his doubts cleared”. “Before taking the film on the floors, there will be several script-reading sessions individually with the actors as well as together to get the characters in-sync,” the source informed.

Varun and Shashank were to collaborate on the period-drama Rannbhoomi. But it was put on the back-burner due to issues with the script. Mr Lele will mark a hat-trick for the duo. “It’s in the happy space and hence the makers have decided to arrive on January 1, next year,” the source shared.

This will be Janhvi’s fourth film with KJo after Dhadak, Gunjan Saxena: The Kargil Girl and Dostana 2, while Bhumi has the upcoming Bhoot: The Haunted Ship with the filmmaker and his next directorial, Takht.

Varun Dhawan has also just announced a comic thriller and admits that he’s in talks for an action film even as he gears up for a musical
Himesh Mankad (MUMBAI MIRROR; January 15, 2020)

It’s a Sunday morning and Varun Dhawan is chilling at home, remembering the Tamtam and Khaman he savoured during the promotions of his upcoming film, Street Dancer 3D in Ahmedabad. Looking at his rippling muscles, you would think food would be the last thing on his mind but the actor is known to spring surprises, not just on screen but off it too. Talking about his Republic Day offering, he points out that director Remo D’souza and he had already set a standard with their last film, ABCD: Anybody Can Dance 2. “Given all the TV reality shows it is difficult to excite the audience with dance alone, so we have introduced some novel aerial jumps and flips,” he reveals, admitting that over the years, though he has evolved as a dancer, it’s still hard to match up to today’s kids.

He reunites with his ABCD2 co-star Shraddha Kapoor and has a new dance partner in Nora Fatehi. “Nora and I share an exciting chemistry, hers is a special track in the film. The banter between Shraddha and me will bring a lot of laughs, the way it is for real,” he says earnestly.

After the 2017 comic caper, Judwaa 2, Varun took a step back from the masala movies he graduated in with October, Sui Dhaaga and Kalank. “Yeah, I’m getting back to the commercial child-friendly genre. I want to do such films the minute I start missing them. The timing is right for us because January has several important films on serious issues,” points out the actor, saying he follows his heart when it comes to signing films and is looking forward to another “fun” film, Coolie No. 1, with dad David Dhawan. “I love being an entertainer, and making people smile is a big deal with our family. My dad’s films have always spread happiness too.”

Coolie No. 1 sees a new jodi in Varun and Sara Ali Khan and he reasons that if people are already talking about the sparkle they exude even on camera and Varun believes it’s because they get along famously in real life. After stepping into Salman Khan’s shoes in Judwaa 2, Varun will do a take on one of Govinda’s character in the Coolie No.1 remake. “It’s not a remake actually, but more of an adaptation,” he corrects. “It’s a film for this generation though we have retained the screenplay, which was brilliant. Sara and I are trying to do what our seniors (Govinda and Karisma Kapoor) did in the original, under David Dhawan’s direction. It’s been a crazy ride.”

It’s been nine years since his debut film, Student Of The Year, and one has yet to see Varun in the quintessential Bollywood action film. “Talks are on, I’m looking to explore the comic thriller genre too in Mr Lele. After reading the script, I called Shashank (director Shashank Khaitan) 109 times in two days,” shares the actor who was to team up with him on a period film, Rannbhoomi, which for now has been put on the back-burner. Mr Lele rolls in March, following which Varun moves on to Sriram Raghavan’s biopic on 1971 war hero, Arun Khetarpal. He describes his recent visit to the Air Force base around Jodhpur as “the best experience of my life—so amazing and inspiring”. As an actor, he observed their body-language and as a part of his prep, will go to more such bases.

Meanwhile Bhushan Kumar, who is producing the film with Lizelle D’souza, has plans to spin Street Dancer 3D into a franchise. Varun confirms this, saying, “There is an idea, but these films need to be done for the right reasons; like in this film, we dance for a cause. Remo keeps coming up with wonderful ideas and I’m sure after two dance films, Shraddha and I will do the next one together, with Nora joining in the family too.”

Post War, which saw Hrithik Roshan team up with Tiger Shroff, two-hero films are back… “I have done them already, from Dilwale to Dishoom and Kalank,” he cuts in. How about a collaboration with Salman Khan, a sequel to Partner 2 maybe, helmed by dad Dhawan? “You never know what can happen in the future. I’m ready to work Salman Bhai anytime,” he signs off.

Actors team up for Shashank Khaitan’s next, which also features Bhumi Pednekar and goes on the floors in March
Akash Bhatnagar (MUMBAI MIRROR; January 3, 2020)

Janhvi Kapoor, who wrapped up the second schedule of Dostana 2 last week, is gearing up for her next project. Mirror has learnt that the actress is reuniting with Shashank Khaitan, who directed her debut film Dhadak, for Mr Lele, which also features Varun Dhawan and Bhumi Pednekar.

According to a source close to the development, the 22-year-old actress will play the protagonist alongside Varun and Bhumi. “The makers were keen to get Janhvi on board as she and Varun haven’t worked together before. The team had a narration for her last week and she instantly agreed. The film is currently in preproduction stage,” the source shared, adding that Mr Lele is a comic-thriller in the commercial space.

The story revolves around the three protagonists, who are involved in a mysterious incident that leads to hilarity. “The dialogue draft for the film is currently in the works and it is expected to go on the floors in the first week of March,” the source shared, adding that Shashank is scheduled to go on a recce in the city later this month as the team will also be shooting at real locations.

This will be Janhvi’s fourth film with Karan Johar’s banner after Dhadak (2018) opposite Ishaan Khatter, Dostana 2 with Kartik Aaryan and Gunjan Saxena: The Kargil Girl. Meanwhile, Mr Lele also reunites Varun with his Dulhania series (Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania and Badrinath Ki Dulhania) director Shashank. The new film is expected to go on the floors in March in Mumbai.

On Saturday, Janhvi wrapped up the Gunjan Saxena biopic, which is directed by debutant Sharan Sharma and co-stars Angad Bedi and Pankaj Tripathi. She also has Roohi-Afza opposite Rajkummar Rao, the second film in Dinesh Vijan’s horror-comedy series after Stree (2018).

Akash Bhatnagar (MUMBAI MIRROR; December 13, 2019)

Mirror had earlier reported (November 27) that Varun Dhawan is teaming up with Bhumi Pednekar and Kiara Advani for Shashank Khaitan’s next directorial. The film, which is being produced by Karan Johar, marks Varun and Shashank’s third collaboration after the Dulhania series (Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania and Badrinath Ki Dulhania). It marks Kiara’s second outing with Shashank after Good Newwz, in which he is a co-producer.

Now, we have learnt that the title of the upcoming film has been finalised. “After contemplating several options, the makers have zeroed in on Mr Lele as it suits the story best,” revealed a source close to the development. The film is an out-and-out commercial entertainer and very different from anything the trio has done before. It is currently in the prep and expected to go on the floors in late February or early March. The first schedule will be in Mumbai.

Apart from Mr Lele, Varun has Street Dancer 3D, opening on the Republic Day weekend, followed by Coolie No 1 with dad David Dhawan, also featuring Sara Ali Khan, in May. Bhumi has KJo’s Bhoot: The Haunted Ship coming up in February, followed by the period drama Takht, which he is helming himself. Kiara has the busiest year, with four films up for release, including Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 opposite Kartik Aaryan, Indoo Ki Jawani with Aditya Seal, Karan’s Shershaah with Sidharth Malhotra and Laxmmi Bomb on Eid with Akshay Kumar.