Is Sajal returning to B-town?

Actor is rumoured to be cast in an upcoming Bollywood period drama

If you haven’t yet had enough of Sajal Ali in Zard Patton Ka Bunn and are simultaneously wishing she would hurry up with a Bollywood comeback (after all, Sajal hasn’t taken on a B-town role since her sizzling Bollywood debut performance in the Sridevi starrer Mom), then you could be in for a treat. According to a report by Times of India, Sajal may be slated for a top spot in the upcoming action-romance Fauji.

Whilst there is a cloak of uncertainty cast upon much of the project, Indian media has confirmed that it will be directed by Indian filmmaker Hanu Raghavapudi, known most recently for his visually breathtaking work on the romance-action film Sita Ramam (2022). Indian star Prahbas, meanwhile, fresh off the success of Kalki 2898 AD the highest-grossing foreign film in North America this year — looks to play the male lead in Fauji. Whispers on social media had been circulating hinting that Indian actor Mrunal Thakur would take on the mantle of the female lead, but new reports suggest that the baton may finally rest with Sajal, although the final casting is yet to be confirmed.

Fans of historical drama will be thrilled to learn that Fauji is set amid the backdrop of pre-independence India, with Prahbas likely to play the role of a British soldier embroiled in his own love story. Production is likely to begin in September, with pre-production activities already in full swing. According to Indian outlets, elaborate sets in connection with the project have been constructed in Hyderabad. In addition, a musical score is being composed by Vishal Chandrashekhar, with three songs having already been recorded.

If Sajal’s casting is confirmed, it will mark the actor’s third international venture outside Pakistan. Sajal has already once wowed audiences with her role in the 2017 Bollywood thriller Mom, where she played the daughter of the late Sridevi’s character, a performance that garnered widespread critical acclaim. Sajal’s most recent international project was the 2022 romance comedy What’s Love Got To Do With It? where she performed alongside industry stalwart Emma Thompson, as well as Lily James. On home ground, Sajal can currently be seen bewitching fans with her role in Zard Patton Ka Bunn and is also slated to star alongside A-listed Humayun Saeed in the upcoming television drama Main Manto Nahi Hoon.