Zoya Akhtar has been trying to make a gangster film for a while now. The filmmaker has been speculated to be doing a dark thriller with her favourite Ranveer Singh, marking their third collaboration after Dil Dhadakne Do and Gully Boy. The said project is believed to be along the lines of Martin Scorsese's critically-acclaimed thriller The Departed (2006) that explores the gritty world of the underbelly that runs in the country. The film was supposed to go on floors mid-this year after the completion of Ranveer's current assignments, however, that doesn't seem happening anymore.
Peepingmoon.com has exclusively learned that Zoya Akhtar and Ranveer Singh's gangster drama has been put on hold for the time being. "This film is a kind of a passion project for Zoya. She has designed it in a certain way and plans to make it on a big scale. It's a very travel-heavy film and requires to be shot at multiple locations in India and abroad, and that doesn't seem feasible at this point of time when the world is on the verge of witnessing the second wave of COVID-19. Zoya, Ranveer and Farhan Akhtar (who's producing the film) don't want to compromise on anything and hence have collectively decided to set back the film until the normalcy fully returns," a source close to the development informed us.
The gangster drama has apparently been delayed also because the script still remains incompleted. Zoya is currently shooting for the second series of Amazon Prime's Made In Heaven and will then direct one more OTT project (more on this next week) before she gets back to the Ranveer Singh film. The gangster movie is expected to go on floors only mid-next year now.
Meanwhile, Ranveer is all set to have three theatrical releases this year. While Rohit Shetty's Sooryavanshi where he plays an extended cameo as Simmba will hit theatres on April 30, Yash Raj Films' Jayeshbhai Jordaar is scheduled for August 27 release. The two are expected to be followed by his Rohit Shetty entertainer, Cirkus, likely to come out post-Christmas weekend this year. On the work front, Ranveer will next start Karan Johar's relationship drama with Alia Bhatt in June. He is also going to star in director Shankar's psychological crime remake. Indications are that the film will be the Hindi remake of Anniyan, which starred Vikram in the lead. Kiara Advani will join forces with Ranveer on this film.
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