Actors Saif Ali Khan and Kiara Advani will headline screenwriter Kanika Dhillon’s directorial debut feature, reports stated.
According to online entertainment portal Pinkvilla, the upcoming film is pegged as an intense thriller with a supernatural twist. Currently in the scripting stages, the project is being set up at Farhan Akhtar and Ritesh Sidhwani’s Excel Entertainment, a source told the publication.
The film marks Dhillon’s transition from screenwriter and producer to director. She began her career with Shah Rukh Khan’s Red Chillies Entertainment, where she worked as a script supervisor. Her screenwriting credits include Ra.One, Manmarziyaan, Kedarnath, Judgementall Hai Kya, Guilty, Haseen Dillruba, Rashmi Rocket, Raksha Bandhan and Dunki.
Dhillon also wrote Phir Aayi Hasseen Dillruba and co-produced Do Patti, both of which released on Netflix. Her banner Kathha Pictures is producing the upcoming revenge thriller Gandhari starring Taapsee Pannu and Ishwak Singh.
Saif Ali Khan was last seen in the Netflix cop drama Kartavya. His upcoming release is Haiwaan, a dark thriller directed by Priyadarshan and co-starring Akshay Kumar.
Kiara Advani, meanwhile, is set to appear in Toxic: A Fairy Tale for Grown-Ups, alongside Yash and Nayanthara. Directed by Geetu Mohandas, the action drama is slated for a worldwide theatrical release on August 26. Advani was last seen in War 2, alongside Hrithik Roshan and Jr NTR.
In a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter India, Saif Ali Khan spoke about his current priorities as an actor.
“Now what I would like to do is to focus a little more and enjoy whatever that one project is, to kind of commit more to in whatever way,” Khan said. “On the other hand, I also think that I just feel really lucky and I want to capitalise on and enjoy whatever attention I get. If somebody’s interested in working with me, I just want to try and get the most out of that as I can."