Priyanka Chopra no longer part of Saif Ali Khan and Ritesh Batra’s film

Priyanka Chopra and Saif Ali Khan. Pics/Instagram, Yogen Shah

A day after we reported that Saif Ali Khan and filmmaker Ritesh Batra were set to collaborate on a yet-untitled period drama (Making way for period drama, Oct 20), a casting change has emerged in the project. Sources close to the production have told mid-day that Priyanka Chopra, who was originally expected to play the female lead, is no longer part of the film.

This development comes as the movie rolls today, October 21, at a museum in Byculla, Mumbai. A source close to the project revealed, "Priyanka was expected to join the Mumbai shoot. However, she had to bow out of the film. She was keen to headline it, and work with both Saif and Ritesh. Her existing professional commitments, however, led to a scheduling conflict. The team explored the possibility of working the dates around, but it just didn't work out."

Ritesh Batra. Pic/AFP

From what we've heard, the makers are now in talks with two leading actors for the role. Considering the shoot has begun, they will lock one soon. For now, Batra and the unit are moving ahead with Khan, filming his portions for the first few days. The movie will apparently be shot in a start-to-finish schedule in different parts of South Mumbai.

mid-day reached out to Batra and Chopra's team. Both didn't respond till press time.

What are the odds?

Despite being peers, Priyanka Chopra and Saif Ali Khan have not shared screen space to date

Ritesh Batra has won international acclaim with:

‘The Lunchbox' (2013)
‘The Sense of an Ending' (2017)
‘Our Souls at Night' (2017)
‘Photograph' (2019)