Bhumi is a lot more desirable & hotter today: Ayushmann Khurrana

Putting all casting rumours to rest, Ayushmann Khurrana and Bhumi Pednekar have confirmed that they play the romantic leads in Sameer Sharma's upcoming love story, Manmarziyan, which will be shot in Punjab. "We had been toying with the story for a while. It's like making a movie with friends. Only this time, Bhumi is back, and is a lot more desirable and hotter today," Ayushmann tells Mirror, adding that the film is a pure Punjabi romance.

A second male lead for the film, which is a contemporary love story, will be announced shortly. Manmarziyan goes on floors in January and the actors will film a marathon schedule.

"Ayushmann and I have never had any unpleasant moment between us, on or off the sets. He doesn't patronise me and is a brilliant actor," Bhumi, who made her Bollywood debut opposite the actor in Dum Laga Ke Haisha last year, notes. The actor returns the compliment, saying, "Bhumi's a chameleon. Despite being a Maharashtrian, she aced the North Indian accent in her debut film, and now, she's learning Punjabi."

The actress, who has lost over 15 kgs since her debut, chimes in, "Yes, I've turned Punjabi overnight. I'm listening to Punjabi music, eating Punjabi food..." before Ayushmann, who will also record a song for the film, jokingly cuts her off, "Bhumi, you need to stay away from food."

Director Sameer Sharma, whose last directorial Luv Shuv Tey Chicken Khurana was also set in Punjab, reveals that he was not too keen to go back for his next, but he was left with no choice when, novelist Kanika Dhillon (of Bombay Duck is a Fish fame), who's written the story, shared the idea with him.

The director has also been in the news for Jugalbandi, a musical love story, which will be produced by Salman Khan Films. "I would really like for that script to come alive on the big screen, but for now, I am focussing on Manmarziyan. I must confess that Jugalbandi is in very good hands and it is in progress," he promises.

Manmarziyan will feature music by Amit Trivedi while Avinash Arun, whose directorial debut Killa won the best Marathi feature nod at this year's National Awards, wields the camera. "As a writer, I know that I take a lot of time to write a film. Luv Shuv... took over two years and Manmarziyan has taken longer than that. But now that my work is in secure hands, I know we'll create meaningful cinema. And I will work faster too," the director laughs. Talking about his film's hit jodi, Sameer says that Bhumi, who is dedicated to losing the last bit of her excess weight by the time the film rolls, is all set to play the quintessential Bollywood heroine. "She will be seen in a classic onscreen avatar - beautiful, sexy, reminiscent of leading ladies of Chandni, Silsila, Woh Saat Din, Andaaz.

Ayushmann is such a fine actor; Bhumi and him make a beautiful team."