Theatrical release for Sanjay Leela Bhansali's production starring newcomers Anmol and Jhatalekha Malhotra

Jhatalekha Malhotra

Sanjay Leela Bhansali's next production, Tuesdays & Fridays, will release theatrically on February 19. On Thursday, the motion poster of debutant director Taranveer Singh's romantic comedy was unveiled.

The film also marks the Bollywood debut of Poonam Dhillon and producer Ashok Thakeria's son Anmol and beauty pageant winner Jhatalekha Malhotra. In 2017, there was talk that Shahid Kapoor and Kiara Advani were to feature in the film, but things did not work out.

This isn't the first time Bhansali is working with newcomers, he launched Ranbir Kapoor and Sonam K Ahuja in 2007 with his directorial venture Saawariya. The filmmaker now has Gangubai Kathiawadi coming up with Alia Bhatt.

Also, rumours are rife that he's set to collaborate with Richa Chadha almost eight years after Ram-Leela (2013). The actor was recently spotted outside the filmmaker's Juhu office. A little bit of digging revealed that Chadha is in talks with the auteur to headline a web series that will be produced under his banner.

Bhansali will remain true to his signature style of lavish productions with this offering, which will mark his foray into digital entertainment.

"It's a period drama rooted in a chapter of Indian history, with Bhansali sir serving as the creator and showrunner. Usually, tentpole projects are commissioned by streaming giants. But here, the filmmaker is said to be making it independently after which he will sell it to an OTT platform. The script is being developed while Bhansali sir zeroes in on the two male leads. Richa, who is keen to portray the female lead, has yet to sign on the dotted line," says a source. If all goes well, the multi-crore project will roll by the year-end. The web series aside, the director has his hands full with the Alia Bhatt-starrer, Gangubai Kathiawadi.