MUMBAI: Ranbir Kapoor is all set to have the busiest year of his career so far. In 2013 he will complete 3 films: Abhinav Kashyap’s ‘Besharam’, Abhinav’s brother Anurag Kashyap’s ‘Bombay Velvet’ and then in September, Ranbir starts his film with director Imtiaz Ali, a comedy which would feature him opposite Anushka Shrama.
Imtiaz Ali will be directing two back-to-back films in 2013. On February 1, Imtiaz began shooting the road movie ‘Highway’ with Randeep Hooda and Alia Bhatt. He wraps up this road film by April 2013 to release it in June, and goes into his film with Ranbir Kapoor on 15 September which would star Ranbir with Anushka Sharma.
Both the Imtiaz Ali films would be produced by Sajid Nadiadwala .
Says a source, “ Imtiaz was all set to go on the floors at the beginning of 2013 with his Ranbir starrer. But then it was decided between Imtiaz and Anurag Kashyap—who are close friends– that Ranbir would first shoot for Kashyap’s ‘Bombey Velvet’ before going on to Imtiaz’s film in 2013.”
Suddenly Imtiaz’s team was at a loose end.
Says the source, “Imtiaz suggested to producer Nadiadwala that instead of waiting for Ranbir to be free of ‘Bombay Velvet’ they can make another film ‘Highway’ a script that he has ready and planned to shoot later.”
‘Highway’ features the entire core crew of producer Sajid Nadiadwala, director Imtiaz Ali, cinematographer Anil Mehta and music composer A R Rahman from the film that Imtiaz would direct with Ranbir Kapoor in the lead from 15 Sepember 2013.
‘Highway’, our source informs us, is “a travel tale, a road movie, a romance between a chirpy girl and a brooding stranger which would take the pair to Himachal.”
The film’s lead pair Randeep Hooda and Alia Bhatt were Imtiaz’s choices. “Nadiadwala had no problems convincing Alia Bhatt to step into ‘Highway’ since she was already committing to do another film with Nadiadwala. She instantly agreed. And Karan Johar happily allowed his “baby-doll” to be hop over to Nadiadwala’s production house,” says our source.
Says the source, “’Highway’ is the story of two unlikely travelers journeying to Himachal Pradesh. Imtiaz’s film with Ranbir would occupy the light comic space. They have done a very serious film ‘Rockstar ‘ together. Now Imtiaz and Ranbir just want to have fun.”
