Saif begins intimate shoot with Ritesh Batra

Barely a month has passed since Saif Ali Khan held audiences on edge in the taut thriller ‘Haiwaan’, and he is already preparing to leave that world behind for the grandeur of a period drama. After years of balancing mainstream blockbusters and notable work on streaming platforms, the actor is now set to collaborate with director Ritesh Batra on his upcoming film. Batra earned international admiration with ‘The Lunchbox’ (2013), a delicate story told with warmth and restraint, and he has since remained a filmmaker who finds drama in quiet moments and ordinary emotions.

Why Saif Ali Khan suits Ritesh Batra’s stories

According to Mid-Day, the film has been in pre-production for some time. Both Saif and Ritesh are huge admirers of each other’s work. And Saif is the perfect fit for Ritesh’s soft, subtle stories.

Saif Ali Khan’s film to start shooting this week

The film is expected to begin shooting in Mumbai later this week. According to reports, the makers are aiming for a compact schedule and intend to “wrap up the intimate period drama in one go”. Alongside this untitled project, Batra is also busy giving final touches to the opening two episodes of the upcoming Netflix series ‘Unaccustomed Earth’, featuring Freida Pinto and Siddharth.

Is Saif Ali Khan’s period drama Batra’s earlier project?

Some time ago, Batra was reportedly lined up to direct a cross-country love story headlined by Anil Kapoor, though the plan was later put on ice. With the specifics of his collaboration with Khan still undisclosed, there is no clarity yet on whether this period drama is a revival of that earlier idea or an entirely separate film.

Saif Ali Khan and Ibrahim’s banter on Instagram

Recently, Saif has officially joined Instagram, and his first post is already winning hearts. The actor made his debut with a set of pictures taken inside the Pataudi library, and the post created quite a buzz online. His son, actor Ibrahim Ali Khan, was as surprised as the fans, and the playful exchange between the two has caught everyone’s eye. Ibrahim seemed taken aback and asked, “Is this you, Abba, no na?” Saif answered by sharing an old childhood picture of Ibrahim, asking whether the little boy in it was him in May 2008. Ibrahim went along with the joke and replied, “I guess so.”