MUMBAI: Days after being released from jail, Bollywood superstar Salman Khan has begun shooting for his upcoming film titled Bharat. Directed by Ali Abbas Zafar, Bharat is an official adaptation of 2014 South Korean film Ode to My Father.
Sharing a picture of Salman from the sets, Zafar tweeted, “And it begins: Bharat. A journey of a man and a nation together. Eid 2019.”
And it begins “Bharat” @BeingSalmanKhan . A journey of a man and a nation together . Eid 2019 pic.twitter.com/nD05ca2FDE
— ali abbas zafar (@aliabbaszafar) April 16, 2018
Bollywood’s international star Priyanka Chopra is also set to return to Bollywood with this film. In an official press statement, Chopra said, “Bharat it is! I’m looking forward to beginning shooting for this film and working with Salman and Ali again after a considerable time. I’ve learnt a lot from them in our previous collaborations and am excited to see what this one has to offer. I am also looking forward to working with Alvira and Atul (Agnihotri, Salman’s sister and brother-in-law and film’s producers) and the entire team of Bharat. To all my well-wishers who’ve been so patient and supportive… thank you for your constant support. I’ll see you all at the movies.”
On Priyanka’s addition to the film, the Hindustan Times quoted the director as saying: “Bharat is Priyanka’s homecoming to Bollywood after having proven her range as a performer in Hollywood films and a blockbuster global TV show.”
“Bharat is rooted in India and its culture, despite it set over a period of 70 years and various countries. Priyanka is India’s biggest artist internationally and she is a perfect fit for the film. Priyanka brings in outstanding acting as well as incredible international appeal to make the scale of the film bigger and even more global.”
“We have found the soul of Bharat in Priyanka Chopra. As the love story in Bharat is very mature and quite subtle, we needed an actor who could portray this in the best possible way. Her character is the soul of the film, and throughout, she stands shoulder to shoulder with Salman Khan in the journey. She is the catalyst for the film’s most important turning point,” the director concluded.
According to reports, Katrina Kaif is also expected to join the cast of the film.
Ali Abbas Zafar has previously worked with Priyanka in Gunday. Salman and Priyanka have done several films together including Mujhse Shadi Karoge and Salaam-e-Ishq.
Bharat is set to release on Eid 2019.
