Tanya Maniktala to play a pivotal role in Rajkummar Rao’s second production; shoot begins in November

In May, mid-day reported that Rajkummar Rao was set to begin work on his second production, a yet-untitled film that revolves around the Indian education system (School opens in June, May 12). Now, we’ve learnt that Tanya Maniktala, who broke out with Mira Nair’s A Suitable Boy (2020), has been roped in for the drama, led by Rao and Keerthy Suresh.  

Aditya Nimbalkar, who made his directorial debut with Sector 36 (2024), aims to take a hard look at India’s education system — its pressures, paradoxes, and the profit-driven approach — through his second feature. According to sources, Maniktala plays a woman who questions the rigidity of the academic system, its focus on minting money rather than shaping young minds, and the norms that define success and failure. An insider reveals, “This character is the trigger to the story. Tanya was Aditya’s first choice for the role. He was impressed by her ability to portray vulnerability and strength, the qualities that are central to this story.”
 While leads Rao and Suresh had begun shooting their parts in June, Maniktala is expected to join the unit in November. Another source shares, “Tanya has been reading and researching extensively for this role. She has a 30-day shoot lined up.”