29 October,2026 08:48 AM IST | Mumbai | The Hitlist Team
Vidya Balan and Saif Ali Khan
After weeks of speculation over whether Priyanka Chopra or Vidya Balan would team up with Saif Ali Khan on screen (Who's in? Who's out? October 23), the mystery is finally over. Vidya has confirmed that she will be reuniting with Saif almost after two decades of Parineeta (2005), for Ritesh Batra's Long Years Ago, currently being shot in Mumbai.
The dramedy, set in 1991, follows a family confronting years of silence. "What makes this even more special is that I get to reunite with Saif after Parineeta, my very first film! I can't wait to experience the magic of working with both Ritesh and Saif," Vidya told Deadline.
Ritesh, who is best known for The Lunchbox, expressed his excitement, saying, "I am tremendously honoured to be working with Saif, Vidya and Melanie, and to see these great actors bring characters that are so close to my heart to life," as quoted by Deadline.
Saif also spoke about the new project and said, "Ritesh has an extraordinary gift for telling deeply personal stories that resonate across cultures. Long Years Ago is a film about love, family, and the things we often struggle to say to one another, and I felt an immediate connection to it. Collaborating with Melanie, Vidya, and this exceptional team is exciting, and I can't wait for audiences around the world to experience this deeply moving story."
Long Years Ago is reportedly Laurent's debut in Hindi cinema. The French actor and filmmaker is known for her work in projects such as Inglourious Basterds (2009), Enemy (2013) and 6 Underground (2019).
Laurent also expressed her excitement about being part of Ritesh Batra's upcoming film. "I met Ritesh fifteen years ago at the Marrakech Film Festival, and we shared this dream to meet in Mumbai one day. I immediately loved this new project, and I am more than honored and happy to be a part of it," she said in a statement, as quoted by Deadline.
As reported by Deadline, the film has gone on floors in Mumbai, where most of the shooting will take place. The film is backed by Jio Studios, headed by Jyoti Deshpande, along with Batra and Adeel Ahmed's production banner Poetic Licence and Good Chaos.
