The collaboration between director Raaj Shaandilyaa, of Dream Girl franchise fame, and Nana Patekar dates back to Welcome Back (2015). So, when ASP Rahul Srivastava of the Uttar Pradesh Cyber Crime unit approached the filmmaker-actor duo to create a short film on cyber security and digital arrest scams, the decision was a no-brainer.

“The ad is about an elderly couple, who is asked to pay up by a fraudster threatening to implicate him in a money-laundering case. However, Nana turns the tables on him,” explains Shaandilyaa. He adds that the video aims to educate the public about cybercrime and digital arrest scams, which are rampant these days.

The five-minute and 30-second ad was shot in November last year at an Andheri East studio. While the duo has worked together before, it did not eliminate the nervousness the director felt.

“We shot in just four hours as he had other commitments. Nana is a fantastic actor, just like a coconut — hard on the outside and soft inside. He has his own andaaz. Unke saath darr ka mahaul toh rehta hai as he is very particular about what he wants, but it was never so with me. You just need to make him comfortable in his space. If he likes someone, he will go all out for them,” smiles the director.

Shaandilyaa adds that the two have also discussed collaborating on a feature film together, “maybe within a year.”

In a recent interview, Nushrratt Bharrucha spoke about being replaced by Ananya Panday in Dream Girl 2 (2023) and admitted that she was hurt by the move.

The actress, who had featured in Dream Girl (2019), said, “It hurt me even more when I was not a part of my own sequel. Every other actor was the same, except the girl, which I felt was not cool na, guys? Theek hai, no problem. I can’t fight something I know is not going to change. What do I fight? They’ll say, ‘We don’t want you.’ That’s the truth of it. Eventually, it’s a choice somebody’s making. I cannot question your choice.”

When we reached out to the director, Raaj Shaandilyaa, he presented his explanation for choosing Ananya for the film.

Talking about why certain cast members, including Ayushmann Khurrana, Manjot Singh and Annu Kapoor, were repeated in Dream Girl 2, Raaj Shaandilyaa said, “Dream Girl 2 was not a sequel, but a franchise film. If it were a sequel, then Nushrratt would have been cast in the film. Dream Girl’s story ended when Ayushmann and Nushrratt’s characters united. We wanted to narrate a different story, and so we took the plot ahead with the core characters played by Ayushmann, Manjot and Annu Kapoor, and we cast Ananya in it.”

Ask him if Nushrratt ever expressed her disappointment, and he said, “Nushrratt once asked me why she wasn’t a part of Dream Girl 2, and I gave her the same explanation. I told her that according to the story, we wanted a new girl.”

He added, “There’s no room for disappointment because jab hum third part banayenge, we’ll cast a new girl in it. Usme Ananya nahi hogi, koi aur hogi.”

Raaj also says that he wishes to do more films with Nushrratt, who is a “dear friend,” and so, they should put all of this behind them and move on. “I am producing a new film and approaching Nushrratt for it. I enjoy working with her. I would just like to tell her that purani baatein chhodo, next film ki taiyyari karte hai. I think an actor should be prepared to deal with all this because our industry is like this, where stories and characters keep changing. You won’t know ki end moment tak kya hoga… sometimes we face date issues, sometimes the commercials don’t work out. Ab purani baatein chhodo, aage badhte hai.”

Raaj Shaandilyaa, of Dream Girl (2019) and Vicky Vidya Ka Woh Wala Video (2024) fame, is shifting gears from comedies to bring a real-life episode to screen. His next, titled The Verdict 498A, will chronicle the case of Deeptanshu Shukla, an engineer who was accused of dowry harassment and finally acquitted in 2016.

Through the film, Shaandilyaa wants to show how Section 498A of the Indian Penal Code—that criminalises cruelty by a husband or his relatives against a married woman—has sometimes been misused to create false dowry harassment cases, leading to broken families and wrongful imprisonments.

“This is not just Deeptanshu’s story; it’s the story of thousands of families suffering in silence,” he says, citing Atul Subhash’s case.

“We cannot allow innocent lives to be destroyed under the guise of women’s protection. This film will inspire those falsely accused to stand their ground,” asserts the producer, who has acquired the life rights of Shukla. Bengali filmmaker Anindya Bikas Datta, who previously helmed Bonku Babu (2014), will take the directorial reins of the project. The makers are currently locking the cast.

According to the data published by the National Commission for Women (NCW), it received over 4000 complaints of dowry harassment in 2024. Even as the social evil plagues many parts of the country, Shaandilyaa says his production is his way of appealing for “Men’s Protection Act”.

“We must put an end to the devastating misuse of this law. Now is the time to reform our judicial system to ensure it remains unbiased and does not favour any particular gender. Our nation needs a Men’s Protection Act. Justice must not be selective; it must be fair and equal to all,” he argues.

An engineer from IIT Kanpur, Shukla was accused of taking a dowry of Rs. 15 lakh by his wife, who filed a case under Section 498A of the IPC. He turned advocate to fight his case and was acquitted in 2016.

Director Raaj Shaandilyaa issued an apology to the makers of Stree for the “unauthorized use of character and dialogue” from the franchise without their approval in his film Vicky Vidya ka Woh Wala Video, starring Rajkummar Rao and Triptii Dimri.

In a statement issued on social media, Raaj said, “I, Raaj Shaandilyaa, the director of the film Vicky Vidya ka Woh Wala Video, on behalf of myself and on behalf of Super Cassettes Ind. Pvt. Ltd., Balaji Motion Pictures and Wakaoo Films, the producers of the film, extend our sincere and unconditional apology for the unauthorized use of character and dialogue from Maddock Films’ franchise Stree in our film.”

Shaandilyaa also stated that he regrets any harm caused to the makers of Stree. He added, “We deeply regret any harm caused to Maddock Films and their franchise as a result of this infringement. We are taking immediate steps to rectify the issue and are in the process of removing all infringing content from our film.”

The director continued, “It will be our endeavour to complete this process by Tuesday. We also commit to ensuring that no such unauthorized usage will occur in the future. We further confirm that our film Vicky Vidya Ka Woh Wala Video is in no way associated with Maddock Films, their Stree and Stree 2 franchises, or any of the characters therein. Additionally, we make no claim to any intellectual property rights in Stree, Stree 2, or any related characters.”

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Director Raaj Shaandilyaa, who has helmed the Rajkummar Rao-Tripti Dimri-starrer, Vicky Vidya Ka Woh Wala Video, has issued an apology to the makers of the Stree franchise for adding references from it in his movie without their approval.

He also clarified that the film is not connected to the Stree universe. Prior to Shaandilyaa’s apology, social media users had already pointed out references to the horror franchise in the new release. Controversy started over a scene in Vicky Vidya Ka Woh Wala Video, where Stree, the ghost character from the Maddock Supernatural Universe makes an appearance.

Shaandilyaa, took to X, with a post that read: “I, Raaj Shaandilyaa, the director of the film Vicky Vidya ka Woh Wala Video, on behalf of myself and on behalf of Super Cassettes Ind. Pvt. Ltd., Balaji Motion Pictures and Wakaoo Films, the producers of the film, extend our sincere and unconditional apology for the unauthorized use of character and dialogue from Maddock Films’ franchise Stree in our film. We deeply regret any harm caused to Maddock Films and their franchise as a result of this infringement.”

He added, “We are taking immediate steps to rectify the issue and are in the process of removing all infringing content from our film wherein we have used character and dialogue from Maddock Films’ Stree at the earliest. It will be our endeavour to complete this process by Tuesday, 15th October 2024, to the full satisfaction of Maddock Films. We also commit to ensuring that no such unauthorized usage will occur in the future.”

On his film not being associated with the Stree franchise, he wrote: “Additionally, we make no claim to any intellectual property rights in Stree, Stree 2, or any related characters.”

Rajkummar Rao and Triptii Dimri’s Vicky Vidya Ka Woh Wala Video (VVKWWV) revolves around the chaos that ensues when a married couple’s intimate video goes missing. For now though, there is enough chaos surrounding Raaj Shaandilyaa’s directorial venture. A fortnight ago, producer Sanjay Tiwari and writer Gul Bano Khan claimed that the film is plagiarized from their script, Sex Hai Toh Life Hai. The duo sent a legal notice to VVKWWV’s makers—including producers Bhushan Kumar and Ektaa R Kapoor—stating that Tiwari and Gul, in 2015, had penned an original storyline around the same premise and registered it with the Screen Writers Association (SWA).  

Not only that, on October 1, Tiwari held a press conference, where he stated, “The idea is the most crucial element. Once it’s there, you can spin a script or screenplay around it, but copying the original idea without permission is a serious issue. I hope Raaj investigates his team. I’m certain we have plenty of common people.”

When mid-day reached out to director Shaandilyaa, who has also written the screenplay along with Yusuf Khan, he said that the film’s team is seeking legal recourse.

He said, “We’re sending a legal notice [in response] to their allegations, and what they spoke at the press conference. These allegations are not true at all. We have not stolen anybody’s concept. The core idea of Baahubali is a son taking revenge for his father’s death. Tomorrow, Baahubali’s makers cannot complain that other [filmmakers] have stolen their concept.”

The comedy, set in the 1990s, sees Rao and Dimri as a newly married couple whose lives turn topsy-turvy as they try to retrieve the missing video. Shaandilyaa asserts that there is no question of the team lifting the idea from Sex Hai Toh Life Hai, as the upcoming film has its roots in multiple real-life incidents.

He further explained, “Ours is a fictional story, inspired by various news articles about similar incidents that happened between 1994 and 2000. Our film has been inspired by that—about a husband and wife, who make an intimate video and the impact it has when it gets stolen. We have written an entirely different script inspired by the [news]. There are so many real-life stories like this. How can someone claim that it is their story?”

mid-day reached out to VVKWWV’s producers Kumar and Vipul D Shah, who refused to comment.

Filmmaker Raaj Shaandilyaa shot Vicky Aur Vidya Ka Woh Wala Video with Rajkummar Rao and Triptii Dimri in January, and come October, he is set to release it on the big screen. But the journey on the comedy began seven years ago when the director-writer wrote a script about a couple’s private video going viral.

“While doing Dream Girl [2019], I started thinking about my next. Since Rajkummar was busy, I thought about finishing Dream Girl 2 first. In the meantime, I kept updating the script, and finally, we were ready to roll with it,” shares Shaandilyaa, who had gotten his leading man’s approval even before he fleshed out the material.

To the filmmaker, the idea of people’s personal lives going public spelled both comedy and tragedy. He says, “The idea was that a huge population of our country is coy, yet children are born every second. We are living in a world where any video can go viral within seconds. So, we decided to make a film for the middle class that has a message with a lot of humour and romance. I also wanted to explore the plight of the people at whose expense we laugh. [At the same time], we wanted to explore how people from small towns facing this dilemma would feel.”

Shaandilyaa wanted a fresh face opposite Rao. “We considered Nushrratt [Bharuccha], Janhvi [Kapoor], and Bhumi [Pednekar], but Raj had worked with all of them. We had also thought of Shraddha [Kapoor] but Raj was doing Stree 2 with her. Then we thought of trying Tripti. I had watched her previous work and knew she was a good actor.”

While Dimri was locked for the role, the director wrote another, keeping Mallika Sherawat in mind. “Mallika was surprised that I had thought of her. She loved the narration and said that she was waiting for someone to offer her a [strong and fun] character like that,” he adds.

Comedy is a tough genre not only because it’s difficult to make people laugh but also because filmmakers run the risk of upsetting people. The director, however, is clear that there is a difference between “mazak karna aur udana [to joke and make fun of]”.

“When I am writing, I am conscious that it should be something that the majority enjoys and no one should get hurt.” Having said that, he is also aware that in his line of work, he cannot please everyone.

Shehnaaz Gill, last seen in ‘Thank You for Coming’, has been brought on board for a special number in Triptii Dimri and Rajkummar Rao’s ‘Vicky Vidya Ka Woh Wala Video’. She will dance to the recreated version of ‘Sajna Ve Sajna’ from ‘Chameli’ (2003). The actress-singer finished shooting the song a couple of days ago.

Director Raaj Shaandilyaa says, “We wanted someone who has not performed many special numbers to bring freshness to the recreated version, and Shehnaaz has done complete justice to it. Rajkummar will also make a brief appearance in it. I make films with family audiences in mind, and Shehnaaz is a perfect choice for the song because they love her. She is cute and beautiful, adding much-needed charm to the number. The redux version comes at a crucial juncture in the movie and takes the narrative forward.”

The film will include a few more recreated versions of popular songs. Regarding Shehnaaz, the actress-singer has been focussing on enhancing her acting and diction. We have learnt that she is taking Hindi and Urdu classes to refine her Punjabi accent.

Shehnaaz catapulted to fame following her stint in ‘Bigg Boss 13’, which is arguably the most popular season of the reality show. She was featured in a few music videos before she made her way into the Hindi film industry. The actress made her Bollywood debut with the Salman Khan-starrer ‘Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan’ and was later seen in Bhumi Pednekar’s ‘Thank You For Coming’. Both were released last year.

In a previous chat with us, while talking about her love for singing and her Punjabi accent, Shehnaaz had said, “Jab main Hindi mein baat karti hoon tab Punjabi sound karti hai, but that’s not the case with singing. I understand music and can sing in any language and pick an accent easily.”

It was Sunny Singh’s long-time wish to collaborate with filmmaker-friend Raaj Shaandilyaa. The two had discussed a few projects, but things didn’t work out. Finally, when Shaandilyaa came to him with his co-production Luv Ki Arrange Marriage, Singh knew he would take it up even before he heard the script.

“I have always wanted to work with Raaj Shaandilyaa. One or two potential collaborations were getting delayed because of our other commitments. When he asked me if I was up for Luv Ki Arrange Marriage, I said, ‘Whatever you are going to do with me will be quirky. So, let’s do it,’” smiles Singh.

The upcoming Zee5 family comedy is Singh’s first film since the debacle of Adipurush (2023), which saw him play Laxman to Prabhas’ Lord Ram. The actor admits the first few days after the movie’s release weren’t easy.

“It was very disappointing. But you can’t keep dwelling on it. You need to move on. Every film has a destiny, and you cannot do anything about it. Sometimes, even a good script fails at the box office, and at times, an average film makes money. All you can do is be honest to your craft.”

Be it Pyaar Ka Punchnama 2 (2015) or Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety (2018), the actor has largely featured in comedies. While he doesn’t worry about being typecast, he now wants to try his hand at action. “People won’t typecast you if you’re seen in three to four films of the same genre. I get offered serious roles too. I choose a film if the story excites me. If I’m offered a small-budget comedy and I believe people will like it, I’ll do it. On the other hand, if I get an action comedy budgeted at Rs. 50 crore, I’ll attempt that too. I’m already doing an action comedy.”

In May 2023, when filmmaker Raaj Shaandilyaa launched his production house and announced seven films, he chose Sanjay Gadhvi to helm Googly. Unfortunately, on November 19 last year, Gadhvi passed away of a heart attack. Six months on, Shaandilyaa says that he has decided to helm Googly as a tribute to the late director.

“Sanjay was a friend. We looked at many directors, but finally decided that I will helm it. I want to make the movie for him. The script is locked, as is one of the leads. But it will roll only next year, as I have to work on two movies this year,” says the Dream Girl 2 (2023) director.

Shaandilyaa recalls that when he was writing the sports drama, Gadhvi was his first choice. The reason was simple—he appreciated the late filmmaker’s cinematic sensibilities.

“Sanjay helmed the first two instalments of Dhoom, which is one of India’s biggest franchises. He was an intelligent writer-director, who knew each aspect of his craft, and his technical knowledge was phenomenal. Googly is a heart-warming story about a popular sport; it’s not a biopic. While writing it, I called Sanjay and told him that I wanted him at the helm. He came on board immediately and wrote the screenplay with one of my co-writers.”

Currently, Shaandilyaa is busy with his next production, Luv Ki Arrange Marriage, which stars Sunny Singh and Avneet Kaur. He is also readying Vicky Vidya Ka Woh Wala Video, starring Rajkummar Rao and Triptii Dimri, for release.

Rajkummar Rao is gearing up for his first release of 2024 with Srikanth. But before he dives into the biopic’s promotions, the actor will have to make a quick trip to the ’90s. Rao, who leads Vicky Vidya Ka Woh Wala Video, a social comedy set in the ’90s, wrapped up an extensive schedule in Uttarakhand last week. Now, director Raaj Shaandilyaa is readying for a 10-day stint in Mumbai with Rao and leading lady Triptii Dimri, after which it will be a wrap on the film.

In late January, the director kicked off the project in Uttarakhand with the entire cast that includes Mallika Sherawat and Vijay Raaz.

A source from the creative team says, “Raaj likes to wrap up his projects fast. While a chunk of the comedy was shot in Rishikesh and Dehradun, only a part is now left to be filmed in Mumbai. Over the weekend, Rajkummar will prep to slip into the character again.”

Vicky Vidya Ka Woh Wala Video follows the pandemonium that breaks out in a small town when a couple’s intimate video tape goes missing. The source adds, “After the scandal, the couple comes to Mumbai in search of help. The unit will shoot in south Mumbai, Mira Road, Film City and Madh Island. While a dramatic scene will be canned at a hospital in Grant Road, another sequence is set in a cemetery.”

Producer Bhushan Kumar says, “We’re thrilled to wrap up shooting in Uttarakhand on schedule, and eager to continue the journey in Mumbai.”

Last year, mid-day had reported that Rajkummar Rao and Triptii Dimri would kick off 2024 with the shoot of Vicky Vidya Ka Woh Wala Video (New year begins with a scandal, Nov 22). Sure enough, director Raaj Shaandilyaa’s social comedy rolled in Rishikesh on January 27 and is now in its last leg. We hear the team is gearing up to film two songs, after which it will be a wrap on the Ektaa R Kapoor production.

Set in the ’90s, Shaandilyaa’s film revolves around the pandemonium that happens in a small town when an intimate video of Vicky and Vidya, essayed by Rao and Dimri, goes missing. In keeping with the setting, production designer Rajat Poddar and his team built a set reflecting a mohalla of a north Indian town in Rishikesh.

A source reveals, “Everything, from the cars to the television sets, has been designed keeping the ’90s in mind. The director has been filming with the entire cast, including Mallika Sherawat, Rajat Kapoor and Vijay Raaz, in a start-to-finish schedule since January-end. He has allotted the next fortnight for the two songs. From Sunday, he will can a situational number that plays out against the backdrop of the mohalla and features the whole cast. The second is a romantic track featuring the lead pair.” If things go as planned, the project will reach the finish line by March 4. 

Vicky Vidya Ka Woh Wala Video marks Rao’s first collaboration with director Shaandilyaa as well as leading lady Dimri.

Something old, something new—that’s what Vicky Vidya Ka Woh Wala Video represents for Rajkummar Rao. With the social comedy, the actor is set to reunite with Ektaa Kapoor, the producer who started it all for him with Love Sex Aur Dhokha (2010) and went on to work with him on several projects thereafter. The film promises to forge new bonds too as Rao teams up for the first time with Triptii Dimri of Qala (2022) fame, and director Raaj Shaandilyaa. mid-day has learnt that the project, which was announced in September, will go on floors by January 2024.

Sources tell us that Shaandilyaa began work on the entertainer in October, only weeks after the release of his last hit, Dream Girl 2. The team has already conducted a recce for the entertainer that is set in the ’90s. 

A source from the creative team reveals, “Raaj and his team visited Dehradun last month as the story has been envisioned in a north Indian town. He is currently scouting for locations in Rishikesh. Vicky Vidya… is right up Raaj’s alley, an entertainer with a social message. It revolves around the pandemonium in a small town when a VHS tape containing an intimate video of Vicky and Vidya, essayed by the lead actors, goes missing. The director wants to capture the lost charm of the ’90s, while bringing his trademark humour to the narrative.”

If things go as planned, the team will kick off the shoot in Dehradun from January 7. It will be a start-to-finish schedule with the lead actors having cleared the first two months of 2024 for the project.

The source adds, “First, the team will shoot the introductory scenes of the leads and their on-screen families. The protagonists’ families play a crucial role in the narrative. Raaj will finalise the supporting cast soon.”

Vicky Vidya… will mark Rao’s fourth release of 2024, after Sri, Stree 2 and Mr And Mrs Mahi.

It’s all about the moolah, right? Although the Ayushmann Khurrana-starrer Dream Girl 2 opened to mixed reviews, it crossed Rs 95 crore at the box-office. Propelled by the box-office success of the film, director Raaj Shaandilyaa is not ready to part with the franchise.

“I knew that people would appreciate Dream Girl 2. [I believe] if the audience is laughing, your film is a success,” he says, adding that he plans to take the franchise forward.

Shaandilyaa hopes to keep mixing his movies with comedy and relevant messaging. “For Dream Girl 3, I plan to take [the comedy] a notch higher than the first two parts with a different message. It will revolve around patriotism, contemporary social issues, and personal relationships,” he explains.

He insists that Pooja (Khurrana’s cross-dressing character) will continue to be the hero of the film. “Without Pooja, I cannot make Dream Girl. She is the central [character], along with her father and Smiley [played by Annu Kapoor and Manjot Singh, respectively], who will remain the primary characters. How she gets trapped while solving the problem and how she comes out of it will form the crux of the story in Dream Girl 3.”

As the franchise continues, so will Khurrana’s involvement with the project. “Nobody else can be Dream Girl except Ayushmann,” he assures, adding that it will take another year to make the third instalment. He hopes to take a break before diving into it.

Currently, Shaandilyaa is busy making his next project with producers Ekta Kapoor and Bhushan Kumar. “It is too early to comment on my next directorial as it is still being finalized. Dream Girl 3 will happen, but after a couple of years, as I need to take a break from it,” he laughs.

Having previously worked on Dream Girl (2019), producer Ekta Kapoor and director Raaj Shaandilyaa had a clear vision for the world of Dream Girl 2. Mathura, with its narrow bylanes and vibrant energy, was the perfect setting for the Ayushmann Khurrana and Ananya Panday-starrer. After an elaborate schedule in Mathura in October 2022, the team was to move to Jaipur to shoot key scenes at the Chomu Palace Hotel, which would be depicted as the grand residence of Paresh Rawal’s character Abu Salim. However, it is heard that only days before the unit was to head to Jaipur, Kapoor scrapped the idea of shooting in Rajasthan, instead asking the production design team to build an elaborate set of a haveli in Mumbai.

Reason? For starters, it turns out that Kapoor wanted a more opulent setting. More importantly, in the aftermath of the pandemic, the cast and crew’s safety was her top priority.

A source from the creative team reveals, “When Ekta saw the pictures of the Chomu Palace, she felt it didn’t look grand enough, and voiced her concerns to Raaj and production designer Rajat Poddar. She also highlighted that travelling with a large team outside Mumbai would be a safety hazard, as COVID-19 cases were still high at the time. While shooting in Mathura was non-negotiable as a chunk of the comedy is set there, Ekta felt the Jaipur leg could be scrapped. She instantly decided to conduct the stint in Mumbai instead.”

After the Mathura schedule was wrapped up mid-October, the production design team began building a lavish set of a palace in Mumbai. The haveli was apparently built in 10 days at Royal Gold Studios, in Aarey Colony, Goregaon.

The source adds, “With the set costing over Rs. 1 crore, the budget shot up. But to Ekta, ensuring her team’s safety and staying true to the vision was far more important. She ensured the set looked exactly as she had imagined it—a majestic structure with Moroccan influences and boasting balconies, corridors and stairways. She wanted it to look glamorous as a pivotal scene, in which Ayushmann’s character gets married, plays out against this backdrop.”

mid-day reached out to Kapoor and Shaandilyaa, who remained unavailable for comment.

Ayushmann Khurrana is almost synonymous with social comedies. But the Dream Girl franchise stands out in his filmography for being one of those few out-and-out laugh riots. A good comedy relies on sharp writing and stellar performances to make an impact. With the upcoming Dream Girl 2, which also stars Ananya Panday, Khurrana says he was aided by talented actors who are masters of the genre.

“I’m fortunate to have the opportunity to work with some of the comic geniuses of our country like Paresh Rawal sir, Asrani sir, Annu Kapoor sir, Rajpal Yadav-ji, Vijay Raaz-ji, Seema Pahwa-ji, Abhishek Banerjee and Manjot Singh. To me, we have the best exponents of the comedy genre in our film. This is one of the biggest USPs of Dream Girl 2,” shares the actor, who reprises the dual roles of Karam and Pooja in the movie.

Comedy is the toughest genre to crack, notes Khurrana. What made his job easier was director Raaj Shaandilyaa’s clear vision for his offering, and the able supporting cast.

The actor adds, “Raaj Shaandilyaa has managed to get this eclectic bunch of fantastic actors under one roof, and kudos to him for this casting coup! Our producer Ektaa Kapoor had the vision that she wanted to create a disruptive comedy. There was never a dull moment on set, and I think [the camaraderie] will translate on screen when people watch the film.”

True to his style, Ayushmann Khurrana attempted novel subjects throughout the year — from 'Anek', to 'Doctor G' and the recent 'An Action Hero'. Leaving the films’ underwhelming response behind him, the actor is now walking into 2023 with 'Dream Girl 2', the sequel to his 2019 hit and a subject that he is familiar with. We hear Khurrana will kick off the final schedule of Raaj Shaandilyaa’s directorial venture in Mumbai from January 10. The team will soon recreate a neighbourhood of Mathura in Film City, Goregaon, for the 20-day schedule.

With this leg, the director will call it a wrap on the comedy — also starring Ananya Panday, Paresh Rawal and Abhishek Banerjee — that went on floors in August 2022. A source from the unit reveals, “The first schedule was conducted in Mathura, where Ayushmann filmed outdoor scenes over 10 days. The unit followed it up with a 35-day leg in Mumbai, where production designer Rajat Poddar had erected the set of a huge haveli with Moroccan architecture, where Ayushmann’s character is shown getting married. A modest house, serving as the protagonist’s home, too was built for the stint, and many indoor scenes were shot at the venues. For the upcoming leg, the production design team will recreate the two houses and a Mathura neighbourhood in Film City.”

The actor will also shoot two songs during the upcoming schedule. While the unit is scouting for a live location for a bar dance number, the second is a jagrata song for which a set will be designed. The source adds, “The sequel is a fresh story and not an extension of the original. 'Dream Girl 2' sees Ayushmann’s character as a Mathura-based guy who has to cross-dress as a woman to earn a livelihood, leading to hilarious results.”

The 2019 hit, also featuring Nushrratt Bharuccha, saw Khurrana as a theatre actor who lands in trouble after impersonating female voices. mid-day reached out to Shaandilyaa, who refused to comment.

Dream Girl 2 has been in the news over the past few months, with fans eager to see the new adventure Ayushmann Khurrana’s character may have this time around. With the actor having wrapped up the shoot of An Action Hero, it’s now time for him to focus on Raaj Shaandilyaa’s directorial venture. mid-day has learnt that the sequel will roll in Mumbai next month.

A source reveals, “Ayushmann will kick off Dream Girl 2 by mid-September at Royal Palms in Goregaon. A set of a mansion is being created at the site, where a chunk of the movie will be shot. Raaj has lined up a 15-to-20-day schedule.”

While Sara Ali Khan and Bigg Boss 15 winner Tejasswi Prakash were said to be initially considered to play the leading lady, Ananya Panday has reportedly bagged the role (New dream girl for Ayushmann Khurrana, August 10). The makers, however, have yet to make an official announcement. Paresh Rawal and Seema Pahwa too have joined the cast.

A sleeper hit at the box office, Dream Girl saw Khurrana play a theatre actor who aces at impersonating female voices and lands in trouble for this trait. The sequel too is said to be a comedy with a social message at its core.

Actor Tejasswi Prakash, who has charmed her way into the hearts of audiences with her TV shows, might soon be seen on the big screen.

An insider reveals that set to mark her Bollywood debut, Prakash has auditioned for the sequel to director Raaj Shaandilyaa’s Dream Girl (2019). Actor Ayushmann Khurrana, who starred in the first part, will play the lead role in the sequel, too.

“Tejasswi was offered the next instalment of (producer) Ekta Kapoor’s Ragini MMS. But, she wasn’t keen on doing that, given its contentious genre. She is currently in talks for Dream Girl 2. She has auditioned for it and the makers are yet to put a pin on it,” a source reveals.

From what we have gathered, the actor tested for the female lead’s part, and if selected, she will be seen romancing Khurrana on screen. The project goes on the floors in August. “Initially, it was supposed to go on floors in June. But since the movie is being shot in north India, it gets messy during monsoon. But the pre-production will begin in June,” the insider reveals.

We tried reaching out to her, but Prakash remained unavailable for a comment. Raaj Shaandilyaa, on the other hand, maintained a “no comments” stance.

While there’s no denying that digital entertainment has upped the content game in India, filmmaker Raaj Shaandilyaa notes there aren’t enough comedy shows. This has led the writer-director, who displayed his expertise in the genre with Dream Girl (2019), to be web-bound. He has begun filming his maiden OTT venture, The Great Weddings Of Munnes, with Abhishek Banerjee and Barkha Singh in Rohtak. The series, which depicts a middle-class man’s desperate attempts to marry the woman of his dreams, will see Shaandilyaa serve as creator-producer and Sunil Subramani as the director.

“With so many crime and thriller shows being made, I felt there should be a comedy show mounted on a big scale of a Bollywood movie. The team at Jio Studios backed my vision. Our aim is to change the trend,” says Shaandilyaa, who intends to shoot the series across Mathura, Agra, Hyderabad and Jaipur.

For Banerjee, the laugh riot comes as a change of pace after his serious turns in Rashmi Rocket and Ankahi Kahaniya. “I look for roles that challenge me as an actor. I was [itching] to do a good comedy. When the makers approached me to play Munnes and narrated the story to me, I was blown away by the material,” says the actor.

Singh adds, “I’m looking forward to sharing screen space with Abhishek for the first time.”