Not Salman, Sohail ropes in Nawaz for his next

The Khan brothers — Sohail and Arbaaz — have had a super-successful formula as producers. Find a project that their bhai Salman can headline, and then let nature run its course. But after Arbaaz’s Dolly Ki Doli, which featured Sonam Kapoor, Rajkummar Rao and others, Sohail, too, has decided to helm a project that doesn’t star bade bhaiyya in the lead. In fact, our very reliable sources tell us that Sohail has roped in Nawazuddin Siddiqui to front the project. They also whisper that Sohail will not only produce, but also direct this new film.

So, how did this project come about? Apparently, after Bajrangi Bhaijaan was wrapped up, Sohail had met with Nawaz a couple of times to discuss the project. Nawaz liked the project enough to agree to come on board. As for the leading lady, we hear that Amy Jackson is being considered to star opposite Nawaz.

“Nawaz and Sohail met a couple of times and then finalised the project. Sohail has been mulling over this idea for a long time and he was looking for an actor who suited the character. Nawaz was definitely his number one choice. And after Bajrangi Bhaijaan released, Nawaz also signed on for Sohail’s film.”

As of now, the film does not have a title and the shoot is expected to start sometime by the end of February of the first week of March next year. Currently, the pre-production is on for the film and the other details — like the cast etc. — are being worked out. When we contacted Sohail Khan he refused to divulge too many details, saying, “It’s too early to discuss.” But a source close to him confirmed the story.

Apart from Sohail’s film, Nawaz will also be seen in Shah Rukh Khan’s Raees, Anurag Kashyap’s Raman Raghav and Ribhu Dasgupta’s TE3N. The last film Sohail directed was Jai Ho in 2014, with Salman in the lead.