Nayandeep Rakshit (DNA; May 24, 2018)

Ajay Devgn and Anees Bazmee are teaming up almost two decades after Pyaar Toh Hona Hi Tha for the comic caper Sade Saati. Like Anees’ earlier entertainers including No Entry (2005), Welcome (2007) and Mubarakan (2017), this one, too, is a multi-starrer. Apart from Ajay, who has given his nod to the project, the filmmaker is on the hunt for three more male leads and actresses.

There’s buzz that Anil Kapoor has been approached to join the cast. But the director maintains, “Anil ji is like family. He and I have given several hits together and he knows that if I have a great role, I will definitely offer him the part. We do want him to play the role, but we haven’t discussed and finalised it yet.”

As for the girls, there will be three heroines toplining the ensemble, with one A-list actress being paired opposite Ajay. Says a source close to the development, “The makers have two options in their mind. They want to cast either Ileana D’Cruz or Sonakshi Sinha to play Ajay’s love interest. The main heroine’s role is as important as that of the three heroes because her character is significant to the plot.”

Sonakshi has shared screen space with the actor in Son Of Sardaar and Action Jackson, but is yet to work with the director. Meanwhile, Ileana, who has been paired with Ajay in Baadshaho and Raid, has also worked with Anees in Mubarakan.

Anees refuses to divulge any further details. Instead, he says, “It was lovely working with Ileana in Mubarakan. She’s a terrific actress and I would like to work with her again. The heroine’s role in Sade Saati is a well-established part but as of now, we haven’t approached any actress for the role.” The other two heroines will not be A-listers, our source reveals. “There won’t be any heroine opposite Anil. Anees is also planning to get Varun Sharma on board.”

Interestingly, Ajay and Anil will share screen space in Total Dhamaal, in which the latter is paired opposite Madhuri Dixit-Nene and the former has no leading lady opposite him. Now, it will be a role reversal for the two stars.

Nayandeep Rakshit (DNA; September 7, 2017)

Anees Bazmee’s Mubarakan released a month ago and the filmmaker is raring to go again. He says, “I have three-four films on my mind right now. I don’t know which one I should start first. I have to start working on their scripts. These are all ideas.”

After Hrs had earlier reported that Bazmee is teaming up with his Welcome Back actor John Abraham for a comedy called Sade Saati. But now, it is learnt that the film will take time to go on the floors, “John and I loved working together in Welcome Back. It was a film with an opening weekend of Rs 52 crore, which is his career’s best. We want to work together again. We have discussed a few scripts. He liked the script of Sade Saati, but there were no further discussions as I was busy with Mubarakan. We will meet and finalise the plan soon.”

The director adds that he has “another film for John”. “There’s another script, which will suit him. It’s, again, a comedy with a lot of romance. He has liked that story, too. So, only after we meet, I will decide what to start first,” he says. The romcom will star one of the Gen-Y heroines.

Nayandeep Rakshit (DNA; June 15, 2017)

John Abraham will be reuniting with his Welcome Back director Anees Bazmee for a rom-com titled Sade Saati. In this film, John’s character is struck by Sade Saati — a phase of bad luck for seven-and-a-half years. The source says, “Everything in this character’s life falls apart and nothing works for him. How he eventually succeeds is what the comedy is all about.” Audiences can expect an uproarious comedy-of-errors in typical Bazmee style.

John confirms, “This is one of the stories that we have discussed. But Anees bhai and I are speaking about more than one film currently.” An insider adds that the Welcome Back actor and director have been wanting to collaborate on a film, which John will also co-produce. Though there have been rumours that Parineeti Chopra will be seen in a film with John, he clarifies, “We have not locked down on anything yet — neither the film nor the cast. We, in fact, just had a conversation where we decided to meet next week.” Anees is busy with his next release Mubarakan and John is shooting for Parmanu, and the two will meet when John completes one schedule of the film and Mubarakan hits the theatres.