Priyadarshan is gearing up for a busy period. Fresh off the success of his social satire Corona Papers (April 2023), he’s diving into a diverse mix of projects, including two Hindi films and a potential Malayalam thriller. One particularly exciting project is a Hindi thriller featuring Saif Ali Khan in the lead role. Reports suggest a captivating narrative with Khan taking on the challenging role of a blind man. The actor has reportedly expressed strong interest in the project, and filming could commence as early as July-August 2024, with a tight 40-day schedule.
Speaking to Pinkvilla, a source close to the production revealed, “Priyadarshan has become a master of crafting suspenseful thrillers in Malayalam cinema. Now, he’s looking to create one in Hindi with Saif Ali Khan at the helm. Talks are ongoing, but they’re still in the very early stages.”
The source elaborated, “The script is complete, and the main focus right now is securing the final cast and locking in a production house. We should have a clearer picture about the film’s development within the next two weeks, given its current nascent stage.”
A report in the publication suggests that Bobby Deol has also entered the picture. Apparently, Deol heard the story a few weeks ago and expressed keen interest in joining the project. According to a source, “Bobby was very impressed by the concept, particularly the character’s complex journey filled with unexpected turns. While he might initially appear as the antagonist, the character actually serves as a parallel lead to Saif Ali Khan’s protagonist.”
The source further revealed Deol’s excitement about collaborating with both Khan and Priyadarshan. The source added, “Bobby is looking forward to a thrilling face-off with Saif Ali Khan under Priyadarshan’s direction. He has a busy schedule for the next six months, but he’s trying to clear a few weeks to accommodate the 30-day shoot for this thriller. He absolutely loves the script and is actively working on the logistics to make it work.”
With a proposed marathon schedule of 35 days in July, the makers aim to wrap up filming by August. “Priyadarshan is eager to bring this story to Hindi audiences,” shared the source. “Casting is currently underway, and if everything falls into place, this thriller will begin production before his fantasy comedy with Akshay Kumar.”
The final shooting schedule hinges on securing the remaining cast members and aligning everyone’s dates. Interestingly, the source concluded, “Saif Ali Khan is also waiting to finalize his involvement until the antagonist is confirmed.”
This untitled thriller promises a unique dynamic between Saif Ali Khan and Bobby Deol, and audiences can expect to see it hit the big screen sometime in 2025.
In the meantime, Saif Ali Khan has a packed schedule filled with diverse projects. These include Devara: Part 1 alongside Jr. NTR and Janhvi Kapoor, Jewel Thief with Jaideep Ahlawat, and Click Shankar directed by Balaji Mohan.
