Ayushmann Khurrana & Bhumi Pednekar to reunite for ‘Bala’
Ayushmann Khurrana and Bhumi Pednekar are reuniting for their third film together in Dinesh Vijan’s next. Last seen together in ‘Dum Laga Ke Haisha’ (2015) and ‘Shubh Mangal Saavdhan’ (2017), will be seen in a quirky rom-com titled ‘Bala’.
Reported on Mumbai Mirror, this time the story is based on a guy who is prematurely greying and a dusky girl who lives in a society obsessed with being fair skinned. Confirming the news, Vijan shares a bit about the thinking behind the storyline. “Through their journey, the film impresses on the fact that most of us are usually attracted to outward beauty and don’t go beyond that to understand the real person. That’s one of the reasons so many relationships are falling apart today”…further adding “It’s a hilarious story but at the same time it makes you think. The two characters are very interesting and easy to relate to, so is their milieu.”
Asked why he chose Khurrana, the producer says the singer-actor has created a niche for himself by doing the quirky and innovative films, such as ‘Vicky Donor’ (2012) and ‘Subh Mangal Saavdhan’ (2017). “I’m really happy to be doing our first film with Ayushmann,” say Vijan who reveals that he’s roped in the best in the prosthetic’s for Khuranna’s character in ‘Bala’ saying, “I can’t wait to get started.”
Sharing his decision to cast Pednekar, Vijan says “In out film too, she has an author-backed role of a modern day girl in a country that has long celebrated fair and lovely.”
‘Bala’ is to go on floors in March 2019 and slated to release in September 2019. The film is being directed by Amar Kaushik, who directed one of the biggest release this year – ‘Stree’ (2018) which stars Raj Kummar Rao and Shraddha Kapoor.
Vijan also explains how Kaushik landed the role of director for ‘Bala’ as he was only meant to be involved as a creative director, “But he soon got so emotionally attached with the story that we decided he was the best person to direct the film. I had a great creative equation with him during Stree and I am happy to take the alliance forward.”
Kaushik added onto this and shared his excitement of working on this project with Khurrana and Pednekar. “They are two of the most talented actors of our time. Bala is going to be fun and very relatable for the audience, bringing to the fore problems many of us face everyday.”
Revealing how the film title came about, Kaushik shares it’s the name of Khurrana’s character. “It’s his nickname really, but I thought it was an apt title. It is also tongue-in-cheek pun of his life story says Kaushik laughingly, Bal Aa Aaa Aaa.”
