While reports of Vidyut Jamwal replacing Irrfan Khan in Tigmanshu Dhulia’s next project Bullet Raja are being lavishly splashed by Jamwal’s overzealous publicity machinery the fact is Irrfan is still not out of the project. Not yet. After the spectacular ovation given to Irrfan’s latest collaboration with Dhulia in <em>Saheb Biwi Aur Gangster Returns</em> one hears that efforts to bring them back together in <em>Bullet Raja</em> are being intensified.

Starring <strong>Irrfan Khan, Mahie Gill, Jimmy Shergill, Soha Ali Khan, Raj Babbar</strong> Directed by <strong>Tigmanshu Dhulia</strong> Rating: <strong>****</strong> In what could be regarded as a sequence of subliminal comic relief, a little-known actor Rajeev Gupta gives this film, suffused in powerhouse performances, its best performance as a slimy politician caught watching porn on his laptop in his office by a goon masquerading as a journalist.

It’s final. The never-before jodi of Imran Khan and Priyanka Chopra would be seen together in Tigmanshu Dhulia’s next directorial venture <em>Milan Talkies</em> which takes on the culture of movie duplication and piracy in a quirky funny manner. Priyanka’s dates were hard to match with Imran’s, and for a while it seemed the project would have to go with another leading lady. The film to be produced by Ekta Kapoor would be the first to bring together Priyanka and Imran, also the director Tigmanshu’s first with Ekta’s production house.

When Paan Singh Tomar released early last year, little did one realise that the film will go on to make such a significant mark globally. A story of an Indian athlete (represented India at the 1958 Asian Games in Tokyo, Japan) turned army man turned dacoit was an exciting concept for writer Tigmanshu Dhulia and Sanjay Chouhan to develop into a film. With great content, superb reviews, incredible word of mouth and a correctly targeted distribution strategy played a significant role in the film's success.

After his highly-acclaimed acting debut in Anurag Kashyap’s Gangs Of Wasseypur, filmmaker Tigmanshu Dhulia, currently swamped in two back-to-back directorial undertakings, has been persuaded to face the camera again. This time it’s for Ketan Mehta’s <em>Mountain Man</em>, the bio-pic on the unsung Bihari hero Dashrath Manjhi who dug a road through a mountain from his remote village to the nearest city.

During the past few months Mahie Gill has been drinking herself silly. And the blame goes to Tigmanshu Dhulia who has turned her character from the first <em>Sahib Bibi Aur Gangster</em> into a full-blown alcoholic in the sequel <em>Sahib Bibi Aur Gangster Returns</em>. Says a core member of the film’s crew, “When Tigmanshu made <em>Sahib Bibi Aur Gangster</em> he consciously avoided making Mahie a replica of Meena Kumari in the original film <em>Sahib Biwi Aur Ghulam</em>. But in the sequel he has modelled Mahie entirely on Meena Kumari. And that includes the character’s alcoholism.”

Saif is an accomplished actor. But he thinks in English. And that’s a problem in Lucknow where he needs to speak in a colloquial Uttar Pradeshi lingo for his character of a mo-bike-borne sharp-shooter. Apparently in the bid to get Saif completely into character director Tigmanshu Dhulia and producer Rahul Mittra discourage the use of the <em>angrezi bhasha</em> on location. Everyone speaks only in Hindi, and that too the localized variation of the language.

We all know that after making several socio-political films, Tigmanshu Dhulia has decided to make his first 'love story’ titled Milan Talkies. When Imran Khan was signed on to play the male lead, it was rumored that Sonakshi Sinha will be teamed up with the actor. However, it is now learnt that it would be Priyanka Chopra who would play the female lead.

Brandsmith Motion Pictures has signed Sonakshi Sinha for its next venture Bullet Raja directed by Tigmanshu Dhulia. She will play the lead opposite Saif Ali Khan. Interestingly, since the film is based on the UP mafia, the actress who has earlier played the rustic northern belle with grace and élan in her previous ventures will be seen in this as a Bengali damsel. It is said that as soon as Saif returned to Mumbai, Dhulia got into a lengthy meeting with him to discuss the heroine. He was very keen to have Sonakshi on board and was convinced she could pull off the role with ease.

In today’s times when the release calendar is crowded as it never was, finding the right date is as important as making the right film. But one film that has managed to balance both is Select Media-Brandsmith Production’s Tigmanshu Dhulia helmed <em>Bullet Raja</em> that stars Saif Ali Khan. Not only is the film all set to soon roll out, it has also managed to get a release date. It will tentatively release on 31 May, next year. With the exciting combination of Saif Ali Khan and Dhulia, and a good release date, it looks like the post-IPL scenario next year will be great.