Sara Ali Khan not playing Saif Ali Khan’s daughter in ‘Jawani Janeman’

The industry was abuzz with speculations of Saif Ali Khan and daughter Sara Ali Khan sharing screen space in ‘Filmistaan’ (2012) director Nitin Kakkar’s next, after the filmmaker admitted to offering a project to the duo.

While the rumours of collaborating with his daughter were later quashed by Saif, reports say the family comedy – tentatively titled ‘Jawani Janeman’ – will launch a new face instead, reports Mid Day. The chosen one will reportedly essay the role of Saif’s daughter.

The movie will also mark the Saif’s return to production under his newly launched banner, Black Knight Films. The movie ‘Happy Ending’ (2014) was the last project to have come out of Saif’s previous banner, Illuminati Films.

A  source close to the development reveals that the makers are already conducting auditions across metro cities for the female lead. “Since it is an author-backed role, the makers are on the lookout for someone who is talented enough to pull off the part. Casting director Shruti Mahajan has started screening aspirants from across the country. They are keen to zero in on a girl in the next two months so that they can prep her for the big debut, well before the film rolls early next year.”

Jay Shewakramani of Northern Light Films, who is co-producing the project with Saif, is currently neck-deep in auditions. He says, “Besides conducting nationwide screen tests, Shruti has reached out to agents in the UK and the US as well.”

Shewakramani adds that the “clean, fun family comedy” is right up Saif’s alley. “The film revolves around a 40-something man refusing to grow up and act his age. Saif and I have successfully worked together creatively in Race (2008) and Race 2 (2013) [Shewakramani was the creative producer at Tips]. We are close friends and understand each other’s creative ideas.”

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