Filmmaker Alankrita Shrivastava’s last film, Lipstick Under My Burkha that released in July 2017, got huge worldwide acclamation for showing a woman’s hidden sexual desires and questioning the Indian patriarch mindset through an extremely powerful and mature storytelling.
Alankrita was applauded for handling such a bold subject so brilliantly. Without being too didactic or moralistic, she touched upon many serious issues a woman faces in our society. Post the commercial and critical success of this film, Alankrita had announced that she would be making her next film with Ekta Kapoor’s banner, Balaji Motion Pictures.
[caption id="attachment_46606" align="aligncenter" width="535"]
Lipstick Under My Burkha Poster[/caption]
Now PeepingMoon.com has exclusively learned that it’s a two-heroine dark comedy that Alankrita is directing next for Ekta. Our source said, “It’s a female-centric drama set in a small town in UP. Bhumi Pednekar, who mesmerized audiences with her performances in films like Dum Laga Ke Haisa, Toilet: Ek Prem Katha and Shubh Mangal Saavdhan,will be playing one of the leads. While Bhumi is already on board to play a village belle, the other actress is yet to be finalized. The makers have apparently approached Aishwarya Rai Bachchan to play that character but she hasn’t responded as yet.”
The yet-untitled film is said to be an interesting mix of comedy, emotions and drama. The film apparently also deals with a serious issue but with a humorous flair. Both the leading ladies will have strong characters and equal footing. The film is likely to go on floors only mid-next year.
[caption id="attachment_60543" align="aligncenter" width="683"]
Bhumi Pednekar[/caption]
“This particular film is in the making for long. It was earlier supposed to star Vidya Balan and Bhumi Pednekar with Bareilly Ki Barfi fame Ashwini Iyer Tiwari directing it, but things didn’t work out. Then Alankrita came on board and Kareena Kapoor Khan was offered a role which she apparently rejected. Now they have finally locked Bhumi and hopefully they will also rope in the second lead by this month-end,” the source further said.
With the addition of this interesting women-centric drama, Bhumi’s schedule might just end up becoming even more tedious. The actress already has a demanding schedule with three films (Womaniya, Salute and Takht) yet to be shot and Abhishek Chaubey’s Sonchiriya scheduled to release in February 2019.
