Lucknow gears up for another Bollywood shoot

The city of nawabs is turning out be one of the favourite destinations for Bollywood these days.

While the shooting for Emraan Hashmi starrer ‘Cheat India’ has just wrapped up Parineeti Chopra and Siddharth Malhotra’s starrer ‘Jabariya Jodi’ is underway in the state capital these days.

Next lined up is the shoot of Jimmy Shergill and Mahi Gill starrer ‘Family of Thakurganj’. The film is helmed by debutant director Manoj Jha and the shoot is expected to begin from September 2.

Jimmy and Mahi will reunite for the fourth time after playing couple in all three parts of Saheb Biwi Aur Gangster. The ensemble cast has Saurabh Shukla, Nandish Singh, Supriya Pilgaonkar, Pawan Malhotra, Murali Sharma, Sudhir Pandey and Mukesh Tiwari.

UPite Dileep Shukla — who has penned films like Damini, Andaaz Apna Apna and Dabangg — has written the story of the film.

“It’s a small-town family entertainer. Despite being a mainstream film it has soul of a common man and also gives an important message. Like in a big family we have good and bad people here too we will see all shades weaved into one,” says the writer.

Shukla has also written film’s screenplay and dialogues.

“Producer Ajay Singh chose the script which they say is the hero of the film. It has a galaxy of good stars both from Bollywood and local talent. Thakurganj is a fictitious place and story will revolve in and around Lucknow,” says Shukla.

The film will be shot for 70days in one schedule in and around Lucknow. They have a major schedule in Barabanki too.

The opening shot is expected to take place at Ashok Marg with actor Sudhir Pandey and Delhi-girl Parineeti. Jimmy Shergill will join the cast in the second week of September.

Sajid-Wajid are handling the music of the film, he said.

This is both Ajay’s and Manoj’s first film. Though Jha has earlier assisted Tigmanshu Dhulia and was part of Bullett Raja shot in Lucknow.

The film will be shot for 70 days in one schedule in and around Lucknow. They have a major schedule in Barabanki too.

DILEEP SHUKLA, WRITER

Actor Mahi Gill (R) and Jimmy Shergill