Actor’s third outing with Dinesh Vijan is a horror-romedy also featuring Varun Sharma
Roshmila Bhattacharya (MUMBAI MIRROR; December 17, 2018)

On December 8 Mirror had reported that Ayushmann Khurrana and Bhumi Pednekar will be coming together for the third time for Dinesh Vijan’s quirky romcom, Bala. Now, we have learnt that the producer who tied the knot last Thursday, is on his way to a hattrick with another favourite actor, Rajkummar Rao. After Stree and Made In China, the duo will be reuniting for a yet-untitled horror-romedy which rolls early next year.

Confirming the news Dinesh who flew off this morning on his honeymoon, said, “Yes, Raj and I are back and I couldn’t be happier as he’s one of the most talented actors we have today. He springs a surprise with every film and this one will be no different. He plays a small-time goon whose plans go haywire when he discovers that he might be in store for some supernatural encounters. You can be sure he will be as riveting as Stree’s ladies’ tailor, chasing after a ghost.”

Dinesh has also roped in Varun Sharma, a household name as Fukrey’s Choocha. “Varun is in my comic caper, Arjun Patiala, as Diljit Dosanjh’s lackey Onida Singh, a cop with an arrogant swagger and a sarcastic tongue. I was waiting to offer him another role that would bring the laughs,”- exclaims the filmmaker who’s hoping to lock his leading lady once he returns from a two-week vacation. “The female lead is an exciting character, and much like Stree, she’ll be the focal point and game changer for this film too. It’s definitely going to be a laugh riot, off and on the set,” he promises. The film will have the small-town flavour and witty repartee which has become the trademark of Dinesh’s recent work. It will be filmed in Muradabad and while Stree revolved around the legend of a visiting spirit to a temple town for three days in the year, this one takes a quirky look at the underbelly of the Uttar Pradesh city, with a paranormal twist.

Given that Stree is one of the year’s biggest hits, one would assume Amar Kaushik will be directing this film too. “No, Amar will be caught up with Bala which rolls in March and releases in September. Mrigdeep Singh Lamba, the man behind the Fukrey franchise, is the creative director, we are looking for a director,” says Dinesh.

Mrigdeep adds that the two actors are a stellar combination nobody has explored and it will be a delight to watch Raj’s effervescent energy match Varun’s inherent comical innocence.

“Though Raj has proved his comic timing with Bareilly Ki Barfi and Stree, here he will have to shed every bit of himself and get under the skin of this self-proclaimed village hero who’s actually a fool. As opposed to Stree which was a horror-comedy, this one is a horror-romedy, the story of two village idiots stuck in a frightful situation but whose foolhardy shenanigans never stop. Though an out-and-out laugh riot, the horror sequences are spine-chilling as the legend associated with this story makes you stop and check if it has happened somewhere around you as well,” he says.

Dinesh who is also working on the Stree sequel reiterates that this is a totally new concept and another creative challenge for him. “But as they say, behind every successful man in a woman and now with my real-life stree Pramita with me, I can really push the envelope,” he signs off with a laugh. 

Avinash Lohana and Natasha Coutinho (MUMBAI MIRROR; December 14, 2018)

Dinesh finds his match

Joining the shaadi bandwagon after Deepika Padukone-Ranveer Singh, Priyanka Chopra-Nick Jonas and Ginni Chatrath-Kapil Sharma is filmmaker Dinesh Vijan who tied the knot with Pramita Tanwar on Thursday. While the groom wore a blue Troy Costa sherwani, the bride chose a Sabyasachi lehenga in baby pink.

Rituals began in the afternoon at a Juhu five-star and went on for a few hours, before a live band took over and started playing Hindi songs like Agent Vinod’s “Raabta”, “Rang Barse” from Silsila and “Duma Dum Mast Kalander”. “Dinesh’s sister, Pooja, pulled the couple on to the dance floor after which family and friends joined in. The buffet was a lavish spread of Indian cuisine,” informs a guest.

Sushant Singh Rajput, Kriti Sanon with sister Nupur, Raveena Tandon, Aparshakti Khurana and Varun Sharma were among the guests.

The nuptials were preceded by a pre-wedding bash on the lawns of the producer’s suburban residence, attended by Dinesh’s close friends Varun Dhawan, Shraddha Kapoor, Kartik Aaryan and Kriti who bonded over selfies. Being Cyrus and Finding Fanny director Homi Adajania, Amar Kaushik who has just delivered the superhit Stree and Made In China director Mikhil Musale shook a leg to the beats of dhol. The party went on till 2.30 am. The revellers tucked into biryani and Thai curry.

A post-wedding party is scheduled for Friday night at the same Juhu five-star. Close friends and family of the couple have started rehearsals to perform at the do.


Beach wedding for Raghu, Natalie
Earlier this month (December 3), MTV Roadies creator Raghu Ram had spilled the beans to Mirror on his mid-month nuptials with Canadian singer-actress Natalie Di Luccio. “The wedding will be chaotic, nothing grand but something fun with family and friends. More than a wedding, it’s a celebration of us coming together,” he had asserted, adding that having a December wedding was the lady’s idea.

On Wednesday, the couple tied the knot in a beach ceremony in Goa. Celebrations had kicked off with a mehendi, followed by an Andhra-style wedding. Among the guests were VJ and actor Rannvijay Singha, who had worked with Raghu on Roadies as a host and mentor, and Teejay Sidhu.

Shweta, Rohit get knotty in Pune
Shweta Basu Prasad tied the knot with filmmaker-boyfriend Rohit Mittal at a five star in Pune on Thursday. The wedding was a mix of Bengali and Marwari rituals. The celebrations kicked off two days ago with a mehendi ceremony with the bride in a hot pink lehenga and flaunting her groom’s name. The couple also had a ring ceremony where the dress code was western and was followed by song and dance.