Salman to produce Jatt & Juliet remake

Vickey Lalwani (MUMBAI MIRROR; August 1, 2013)

Salman Khan Productions has got two more films in the pipeline after it puts the Suraj Pancholi-Athiya Shetty starrer on floors. Salman's production house will not only co-produce the remake of Punjabi blockbuster Jatt & Juliet (2012) along with Himesh Reshammiya's H R Musik, but it will produce a period film, which will be directed Puneet Issar (who was recently in news when his wife whacked a man at a suburban movie hall for not standing up for the National Anthem). According to a source, Salman will play the lead in Issar's film, while the remake will have a newcomer (not his new protg Suraj).

Salman co-producing a film with Himesh comes as a surprise to many. Although, Himesh started off as a music composer in 1998 with Salman's Pyaar Kiya To Darna Kya and followed it up with Hello Brother (1999), Tere Naam (2003) and Maine Pyaar Kyun Kiya (2005), their alliance went on to hit a rough patch. And it was not until six years later that the two buried the hatchet for Bodyguard (2011).

Salman has recently got Himesh on board as a music composer for his upcoming film Kick. Produced and directed by Sajid Nadiadwala, the film will release next year. Now, by joining hands with Himesh to coproduce a film, Salman definitely is taking the association to the next level.

According to sources, the highlight of Issar's film will be its elaborate action scenes. Issar had directed Salman in Garv: Pride and Honour, way back in 2004 and has been recently spotted on the sets of Bigg Boss 7.

Both these films will go on floors next year.

Meanwhile, after Suraj was arrested (and later released on bail) for allegedly abetting the suicide of his actress girlfriend Jiah Khan, there were speculations that he might no longer be part of Salman's maiden production – the remake of Subhash Ghai's 1983 blockbuster, Hero. However, Salman put a lid on such rumours and confirmed to Mirror (July 4, 2013) that he will launch Aditya Pancholi and Zarina Wahab's son along with Suniel Shetty's daughter Athiya. Tentatively titled The Hero, the first film of Salman's stable will go on floors in November.