Saif Ali Khan and Ritesh Batra’s new period drama has kicked off in Mumbai with an unexpected change already shaping its early days. Priyanka Chopra is no longer part of the untitled film, which began shooting on October 21 at a museum in Byculla, and the makers are now moving quickly to lock a new female lead while production continues with Saif’s portions.
Priyanka’s Exit Reshapes The Film’s Start
Priyanka was set to star opposite Saif in the film, a pairing that would have brought the two actors together on screen for the first time. Her exit came before she could join the Mumbai schedule, with her existing professional commitments creating a scheduling conflict that the team could not resolve.
The film is now continuing with a start to finish schedule planned across different parts of South Mumbai. With shooting already underway, the focus has shifted to keeping the production on course as the team finalises the recasting.
Why The Collaboration Had Drawn Attention
Even with the casting change, the project remains one of the more intriguing Hindi film collaborations currently in motion. It marks Saif’s first outing with Batra, whose work has long stood apart for its quiet emotional precision and international reach.
Batra first won global acclaim with The Lunchbox in 2013, then followed it with The Sense of an Ending and Our Souls at Night in 2017, before directing Photograph in 2019. That body of work had already made this film worth watching closely, and Priyanka’s initial involvement had only amplified interest around the project.
Priyanka Chopra’s Recent And Upcoming Work
Priyanka’s recent screen run has balanced streaming series and international features. She led Citadel in 2023, followed that with the romantic drama Love Again in 2023, and then appeared in the action comedy Heads of State in 2025. In 2026, she fronted The Bluff, the swashbuckling action thriller that premiered in February on Prime Video.
Her next major confirmed film is Varanasi, which is currently in post-production and lined up for 2027. Taken together, those projects underline how full her slate has remained in recent years. Her packed schedule led to the conflict on the new Saif-Batra film, bringing an abrupt end to what had looked like a striking new pairing. For now, attention turns to who steps into the part, and how that change shapes one of Hindi cinema’s most quietly compelling projects now on floors.
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