Lights, Camera, Scoop: Chitrangda Singh Opposite Salman, Vikrant Massey's Cameo in Shahid Kapoor's Next, and Kiara Advani in a Biopic?

The Biopic

Has the Meena Kumari biopic found its leading lady? Earlier this week, Kiara Advani's name popped up as the one who has been approached to play the legendary actress in Siddharth P Malhotra's ambitious Kamal Aur Meena, a star-crossed love saga based on the lives of the screen icon and her filmmaker husband, Kamal Amrohi.

Almost every news outlet carried the 'source' news break, which led to Malhotra trying to debunk the news on his Instagram, urging the media to avoid speculation on the casting in the film. "We will only be more than happy to officially announce it; until then, request everyone to avoid conjectures until they hear officially from us," he wrote.

In subsequent interviews, however, Malhotra did confirm that he has had conversations with Advani about her "possibly" doing the film, but nothing was confirmed as yet. The makers are keen to first lock the Kamal Amrohi casting, and the male star will most likely be paired opposite Advani, who might begin the film post-pregnancy as the timelines are falling in place.

Those who have heard the script—written by Bhavani Iyer and Kausar Munir—vouch that it has turned out to be a "beautiful, moving" love saga of the legendary artists. Advani will be next seen in War 2, headlined by Hrithik Roshan and Jr NTR.

A Cameo, With Love

Last December, Vikrant Massey shook the Internet when he announced that he was taking a break from films, leading many to believe that the actor was "retiring". He hasn't, obviously, and will next be seen on the big screen in the romance Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan.

He shot the upcoming film, which marks the debut of Shanaya Kapoor, earlier this year and then took some necessary time off. In between though, he shot for something else special: a cameo in filmmaker Vishal Bhardwaj's next.

Tentatively titled Arjun Ustara, the gangster drama is headlined by Shahid Kapoor and Triptii Dimri. The film features Massey in a special appearance, which he says he was honoured to do because of his love for Bhardwaj. The actor, who earned nationwide glory with 12th Fail, has been candid enough to say that there are some filmmakers for whom he can pull out all the stops, and Bhardwaj is one of them. Touted to be the most lavishly-mounted film of Bhardwaj to date, the feature is produced by Sajid Nadiadwala.

A New Pairing

Salman Khan is attempting to break the mould, and approach his next film with a clean slate, which means no longer relying on collaborating with people who are close to him or casting actors he has worked with before. After consecutive underperforming films — especially his last Eid outing Sikandar — Khan is set to enter a new world and play an Army officer in his next film set against the backdrop of the 2020 Galwan Valley conflict, which broke out between Indian and Chinese troops in June 2020 in the Indian territory of Ladakh.

THR India was the first to report that Khan has locked filmmaker Apoorva Lakhia's action thriller, based on the novel India’s Most Fearless, and now the industry is buzzing with a new development: that Chitrangda Singh has been signed to star opposite him. Though nothing has been made official so far, Singh is said to have bagged the project, which is gearing up to go on floors in July. This will be yet another biggie for the actress, who is fresh off the multi-starrer comedy Housefull 5.