R Balki, the Hindi filmmaker, announced on Wednesday that his upcoming thriller will star actors Dulquer Salmaan, Sunny Deol, Pooja Bhatt, and Shreya Dhanwanthary in the lead roles.
It will be the first film in the thriller genre for Balki, who has previously helmed films like Cheeni Kum, Paa, and Pad Man, among others.
In a press release, the filmmaker said, “After months of waiting, it is exciting to start shooting anything. And to make a film in a genre that I haven’t attempted before is even more exciting. I have had the idea for a long time but never quite got around to writing it. And while it’s fundamentally a thriller, it banks so much on these four stunning performers. I just can’t wait to get into the edit room.”
The film is yet to go on floors and is expected to release in early 2022.
Talking about Deol’s casting, Balki said, “I am ecstatic to be working with Sunny, an actor whose booming screen presence conveys so much. I am glad he is back and am hoping this new adventure will add a new dimension to his glorious filmography.”
On Salmaan, the director said, “Dulquer is possibly one of the most charming actors in Indian cinema today. Even though I cannot say much about his role at this point, I am really looking forward to his distinct and cool interpretation of it.”
He also added that Dhanwanthary’s performance in Scam 1992 and Family Man impressed him. “I just knew that I would eventually work with this talented girl. She is one of the most exciting contemporary performers and I am looking forward to the on-screen chemistry between her and Dulquer.”
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Calling Bhatt “one of the most versatile actors in our industry,” Balki said, “I must thank Alankrita [Shrivastava] for convincing her and getting another extraordinary performance from her in Bombay Begums. She is clarity personified and just born to be in front of that camera and on screen.”
Earlier, PC Sreeram had revealed that he will be helming the camera for this thriller.
While Balki had announced in June that he and Gauri Shinde have partnered with media business veteran Pranab Kapadia as co-producer for the upcoming films to be made under their Hope Productions banner, it is unknown whether this film will be produced by them. However, his statement had mentioned that the first film under this association would be a thriller.