EXCLUSIVE: Farhan Akhtar exits Aamir Khan-Ashutosh Gowariker's Lalkaara; Sidhant Gupta steps in
Here's the latest update from the Bollywood world:
Farhan is believed to have opted out of the sports drama due to scheduling conflicts with his soon-to-release Neeraj Pandey movie on the life of R.D. Burman. The star will have to undergo extensive preparation to play the legendary music composer in Pandey's movie and will need to dedicate himself entirely to the project until shooting is completed. Considering Ashutosh Gowariker's movie also required him to undergo months of cricket training and commit to a lengthy shooting schedule, Farhan chose to prioritize the R.D. Burman biopic and amicably stepped away from the sports drama.
Adding to this, However, Farhan remains associated with the movie as a producer. He and Ritesh Sidhwani are producing it under their Excel Entertainment banner in association with Rajkumar Hirani Films. Furthermore, Farhan's exit has not made much difference to the movie's proposed production timeline, as the makers have already finalized his replacement, Sidhant Gupta. The star is best known for his performances in shows like Inside Edge , Jubilee , Black Warrant , and Freedom at Midnight , and will play one of Aamir Khan's friends in the movie.
Meanwhile, Described as an ambitious sports saga based on the historic 1952 India-Pakistan Test series, Lalkaara marks Aamir and Ashutosh Gowariker's much-awaited reunion following their 2001 classic Lagaan . Written by Piyush Gupta ( Dangal , Chhichhore ) and Neeraj Singh ( Nil Battey Sannata ), the movie explores themes of friendship, intense rivalry, and national pride against the backdrop of one of Indian cricket's most significant chapters. Aamir will play the role of cricketing legend Lala Amarnath, independent India's first cricket captain, who led the Indian team during the first-ever Test series between India and Pakistan after Partition. Shooting is scheduled to begin on October 1 in Mumbai.
Source: Bollywood Hungama