Kareena Kapoor and Meghna Gulzar’s Film welcomes this actor after Ayushmann Khurrana's Exit

Recently, it was reported that Ayushmann Khurrana had to step away from Meghna Gulzar’s upcoming film featuring Kareena Kapoor due to scheduling conflicts. Now, it appears that actor Prithviraj Sukumaran, known for his work in Bade Miyan Chote Miyan, has been brought on board to fill the role originally intended for Khurrana.

According to a recent report from a leading a channel, Sukumaran has been finalized for the film, tentatively titled Daayra. This project, directed by Meghna Gulzar, is said to be based on a true and unsettling incident, and Sukumaran will portray a pivotal character—a police officer.

A source close to the development informed the publication that the actor will be seen as a cop in the film. "After Ayushmann Khurrana and Sidharth Malhotra exited Daayra due to scheduling conflicts, Prithviraj was approached. He connected with the script and the film's message," the source was quoted as saying.

"His role is essential in driving the narrative, while Kareena's character will show her in a new light, exuding strength, vulnerability, and intuition," the source further added. The shooting of Prithviraj’s first collaboration with Kareena and Meghna is expected to start soon.

Earlier reports indicated that Khurrana was unable to allocate dates for the film due to a packed schedule in the latter half of 2024, which also includes a music tour and various film commitments.

The film’s subject matter promises to be compelling, with a source revealing earlier this year that it would be a significant project, following Meghna’s success with Talvar. The director has invested years in research and has solid source material for the screenplay.

On the professional front, Prithviraj’s most recent Bollywood film was Bade Miyan Chote Miyan, directed by Ali Abbas Zafar, featuring Akshay Kumar and Tiger Shroff. Meanwhile, Meghna’s last directorial venture was Sam Bahadur, starring Vicky Kaushal. Kareena Kapoor is also currently celebrating the release of Singham Again, directed by Rohit Shetty, alongside Ajay Devgn, Ranveer Singh, Deepika Padukone, Tiger Shroff, Jackie Shroff, and Arjun Kapoor.