Arjun Kapoor is on roll these days. He recently wrapped up the shooting for Dibakar Banerjee's romantic thriller Sandeep Aur Pinky Farrar and is currently busy in filming for Vipul Amrutlal Shah's Namaste England. Just last month he announced a big-budget historical drama with filmmaker Ashutosh Gowariker, co-starring Sanjay Dutt and Kriti Sanon. With three films already lined-up to release in 2018/19, the Issaqzaade actor has now bagged one more movie in his kitty.
Arjun Kapoor has come on board to play the titular role in the Hindi remake of last year's hit Telugu movie, Arjun Reddy starring Vijay Devarakanda. Murad Khetani and Ashwin Warde of Cine1 Studios who produced Arjun starrer Mubarakan last year, is adapting this critically acclaimed Telugu drama in Hindi. Although Arjun's name was being speculated since a long, it was just a few weeks ago that he gave his final nod to the project.
"Yes, Arjun Kapoor will portray Vijay's character in Arjun Reddy Hindi remake. He discussed with Murad and Ashwin recently and greenlighted the project," a source close to the producers revealed to Peeping Moon.
The makers are planning to make it edgy and completely mainstream and for that couple of changes will be made to the script in order to suit the sensibilities of Hindi audience. "However, just like the original, it will also be mature and sensitive film spotlighting on the love and suffering in its purest and rawest form."
It was being said that Sandeep Reddy Vanga who directed the original film would be helming the remake as well. However, if the source is to be believed, the makers are yet to finalize the director. "Vanga is surely under consideration as the creative team here says that we should not stray too far from the spirit and essence of the original."
"The adaptation hasn't begun yet. Everything — especially the writer and tech crew — will be finalized after the director is selected. And it's fair enough to let the director decide on his principal crew (writer, DOP, Production designer etc)," the source added.
We have also learnt that the makers are even thinking of retaining the same heroine, Shalini Pandey, from the original as she's from Hindi belt (Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh). When asked about the title, the source said that it will be Arjun with a North Indian surname. However, the project is "not being announced yet because they are searching for the right director." Though the date of going on floors is not finalized yet, it's being said that it will roll only after Arjun is done with Ashutosh Gowariker's Panipat.
Arjun Reddy, claimed to be a contemporary take on Devdas, revolves around a genius surgeon with anger management issues who turns to alcohol and drugs after the girl he's madly in love with is forced to marry another man.
