Pankaj Kapur to play villain in Hrithik Roshans Shuddhi

Veteran actor Pankaj Kapur has been signed to play the main negative role in Karan Malhotra's second directorial venture Shuddhi. Widely regarded as one of the best actors in the industry, Kapur was last seen in Vishal Bharadwaj's Matru Ki Bijlee Ka Mandola.

The mega-budget film will go on floors in the first week of December in Mumbai. The cast and crew will then travel to Uttarakhand, Bhopal and Ladakh.

Pankaj Kapur

There are reports that the budget (cost of production) will be in excess of Rs 100 crore, making it one of the costliest films ever produced.

The script of the film has been written by Malhotra's wife Ekta Pathak Malhotra.

Produced by Karan Johar's Dharma Productions, Shuddhi reunites Hrithik Roshan and Kareena Kapoor more than 11 years after Sooraj Barjatya's Main Prem Ki Deewani Hoon. The film is expected to release in theatres in the first half of 2015.