Rachana Dubey (BOMBAY TIMES; December 30, 2017)

A few months ago, BT had first told you about Richa Chadha and Ali Fazal’s blossoming love story. Ali eventually took to social media to express his love for the actress, who also didn’t shy away from speaking about her relationship.

And now, we have learnt that the off-screen lovers are gearing up for a reel prem kahani. The untitled revenge drama is set in Rajasthan and will feature another actor in the parallel lead role. The film has been penned by one of Richa’s close friends and is expected to roll out by summer 2018. The actors have principally agreed to the project, while further modalities are still being worked out.

According to a source close to the project, the reason Richa and Ali were approached for the project is their real-life romance, which the makers believe, will work as a plus while translating the love story from paper to screen. Over the years, the actors have worked together, but have never been cast as a romantic pair. If all goes well, this will be a first for them in the New Year.

Previously, Richa and Ali had been offered two films together. One of them was titled Nark, which could have marked writer Shagufta Rafique’s Bollywood directorial debut two years ago, but it was pushed on to the back burner. Will the pair be third-time lucky? Only time will tell

Shaheen Parkar (MID-DAY; January 14, 2015)

When Mahesh Bhatt took to Twitter in October 2014 to announce the title of his next, he said Nark - To Hell And Back would hurl the audience to ‘heaven’. However, the recent developments on the project are far from divine. The Ali Fazal-Richa Chadha starrer has failed to take off and the industry is abuzz with news about the project being indefinitely postponed and apparently undergoing an overhaul.

The film was to be the directorial debut of writer Shagufta Rafique, who has penned several of Bhatt’s flicks including Aashiqui 2 (2013). Says a source, “Initially, the project was postponed due to production reasons.

Then came in the news that the director wasn’t happy with the casting and will probably look at other options. Whatever the reason, the project has come to a standstill.”

However, Pooja Bhatt, one of the producers of the film, says, “The only thing that held up Nark was the screenplay as the final draft of the dialogues was not ready. It has nothing to do with the cast. In fact, such rumours undermine the blind faith the entire cast — Richa Chadha, Ali Fazal, Mukul Dev, Ajaaz Khan and Imaan — have in me.”

She says Nark was to be filmed in October-November 2014. As that did not happen, it will now have to wait until she finishes her other two films, Cabaret and Love Affair, which are slated to go on floors next month. “My budget and timeline are written in stone. If one film gets postponed on account of something as vital as the screenplay, it cannot eat into the planning of the next. Also, when Mahesh Bhatt, Pooja Bhatt and Bhushan Kumar give their nod to the cast, there is nothing left to say,” she adds.

Sonali Joshi Pitale (MID-DAY; October 11, 2014)

Looks like flashes of Fifty Shades Of Grey, the bestselling erotic-romantic novel by British author EL James, will be recreated on the Bollywood screen. The plot of Ali Fazal and Richa Chadha’s upcoming film, which will be directed by Shagufta Rafique, is said to be along the lines of the ‘mommy porn’.

A crew member says, “The film is supposed to go on floors by next month and we have started all pre-production work. So far, we have had a detailed narration followed by screen tests with Richa and Ali. So, from the discussion that we have had, some of the erotic scenes in the film more or less conjure up events from the novel. It was hard not to think about the book while listening to the script.”

Another source says after the star cast and crew was finalised for the film, they were asked not to reveal much about the script, which also focusses on the sensitive issue of gangrape. “However, there are some extremely intimate scenes and Richa has been briefed about it,” said the source.

Shagufta, however, denied any similarities between her film and the book.

Vickey Lalwani (MUMBAI MIRROR; September 26, 2014)

While her friends were weaving dreams about Prince Charmings, Shagufta Rafique was dancing in bars in Dubai to support herself and her foster mother, Anwari Begum.

After a few years, she moved to Mumbai and started assisting Mahesh Bhatt. She then went on to write the dialogue and screenplay for films like Woh Lamhe, Awarapan, Dhokha, Raaz 2 and Raaz 3, Jashn, Murder 2, Jannat 2, Jism 2 and Aashiqui 2 which borrowed from her own life.

"I'm supposed to be the love child of Saeeda, producer Brij Sadanah's wife. That is the strangest rumour I have heard about myself. The man (Brij) mistrusted his wife, turned into an alcoholic and one day, shot Saeeda and their daughter, then turned the gun on himself. Just like this story, my life has had plenty of ups and downs" says Shagufta.

Now, the prolific writer from the Bhatt camp is ready to turn director. The twist in the tale is that she has walked out of Mahesh and Mukesh Bhatt's company and collaborated with Pooja Bhatt and Bhushan Kumar.

Her directorial debut, a Richa Chadha-Ali Fazal starrer, is a sensuous love story which will roll in December. "It deals with a gang rape. The scene is a nine-minute sequence with Mukul Dev as the mastermind and a juvenile involved. I wrote the script seven years ago. A top corporate was ready to produce it but wanted a say in the cast. That wasn't acceptable to me, So I took the script back," recalls Shagufta.

Why didn't she go to the Bhatts? Buzz is, there was an issue between the Bhatt brothers over credits of Aashiqui 2. "Yes, I have moved out from that company," she admits. "Mukesh would have never agreed to my directing a film which is why I told Mahesh not to push for me."

Her producer, Pooja, explains, "Shagufta wants to fly, she wants her voice to be heard. Mukesh Bhatt distrusts women."

Shagufta adds, "He has a setup he is secure in, with Mohit (Suri) and Kunal (Deshmukh). But even they have given flops. Scripts fail, women directors don't."

So, will she go back to Bhatts? "If they want me to direct a film for them, sure," she says shortly. "But if they want me to just write for them, then no."