It Will Be A Co-Production
Both the Dabangg instalments were super successful, the first directed by Abhinav Kashyap and the second by Arbaaz Khan. Obviously, both featured Salman Khan and Sonakshi Sinha in the lead. Now it seems Arbaaz Khan has locked the script for the third installment and it will start rolling in the middle of next year.
Dabangg was the film with which Arbaaz Khan turned producer, with Arbaaz Khan Productions. But the third instalment will be co-produced by both brothers, under their home productions Arbaaz Khan Productions and Salman Khan Films.
PS: With Raj Kumar Santoshi's film being put on hold as he has been asked to exit there are chances that Dabangg 3 will start rolling right after Tubelight.
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Wait For Pink
Last year, Shoojit Sircar's Piku was the talk of the town and the film went on to become a super hit. From Deepika Padukone, Irrfan to Amitabh Bachchan, every character was much appreciated. This year, Sircar is working with Bachchan once again, but as a producer in Pink.
Directed by Aniruddha Roy Chowdhury, Pink features Taapsee Pannu, Kirti Kulhari and Andrea Tariang. The film is set to release on September 16 and sources close to the leading star Bachchan reveal, "Sir watched the trailer recently and he loved it. Post Piku, this will feature him in a never-seen-before avatar and he is looking forward to the film. The producers of the film are also very happy with the final product."
There is also a buzz around the music of the film, which has been done by Shantanu Moitra, who had worked with Sircar in Yahaan.
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Did You Know This?
Subhash Kapoor has started shooting his next film Jolly LLB 2 with Akshay Kumar in the lead. The film also features Saurabh Shukla, who also featured in the first instalment but it does not repeat any other cast members. It also features Annu Kapoor in a pivotal role, which was played by Boman Irani in the first installment. But only very few know that the role was actually offered to Nawazuddin Siddhiqui who had to turn it down because he didn't have the required dates. The actor is shooting for Babumoshai and also dubbing for Sohail Khan's Ali.
That's a pity because, after working with Aamir Khan, Salman Khan and Shah Rukh Khan (Raees), it would have been interesting to see Siddiqui sharing screen space with Kumar.
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Batra's Photographer Postponed
Ritesh Batra, director of The Lunchbox, was to start his next film Photographer soon but he's not finished scripting the film. The story is set in Mumbai and revolves around a photographer and his journey. Batra had planned to capture never-seen-before parts of Mumbai, not just chawls and the sea side, which usually feature in films. The movie is a mix of comedy and drama. But when Batra couldn't drum up any enthusiasm from his friends, to whom he had narrated the script, he decided to work on it some more.
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Looking For A Big Star
Rahul Dholakia is busy with the post-production of Raees but the director has also been signed by Eros International for another film. We hear that Dholakia has finished the final draft of his next film, which he had planned to start next year. But now that Raees had moved to early next year, he will start this film only in the middle of next year.
There's a story doing the rounds that the director wanted to cast some actors who were not A-list actors but the production house wants to wait till Raees releases so that they can approach A-listers for the film. It's a thriller based in Mumbai.
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Newcomer Wanted
Box Office India was the first to tell you that Sooraj Pancholi had been signed by Excel Entertainment for a film based on football, to be directed by Pierre Timmins. Given the subject of the film, the actor is required to get the physicality of a sportsman and also learn some moves on the field.
There is also a small love angle and the producers are looking to launch a new girl, who too needs to look like a sportsperson.
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Radhika Madan Signed
Actress Bhagyashree's son Abhimanyu Dasani is all set to make his debut in Vasan Bala's film to be produced by Phantom Films. The actor is currently attending workshops with the director for his character. We also hear that the film will mark the big-screen debut of yet another television star - Radhika Madan, known for her role in Meri Aashiqui Tum Se Hi. The actress has been signed by Bala for this film, opposite Dasani, in a pivotal role.
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Guess Who
Well, this director has always managed to cast big stars in his films. None of his films have broken even for the big production houses who had signed him but with the big names, his films have always sounded big.
So this director announced his next film with a star but he dropped the actor in favour of an even bigger one, whom he had also given a narration. Now, people close to this big star are asking the actor to rethink his decision as the director has never made anything even close to a hit.
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