Ishaan Khattar, Jhanvi Kapoor in Sairat remake; Director Khaitan says 'Wait for official announcement'

It is no secret that Karan Johar's Dharma Productions has acquired the rights of the biggest Marathi blockbuster of all time, Sairat (2016). Nagraj Manjule's film broke records by becoming the first Marathi film to collect Rs100 crore at the box-office. The buzz now is that Johar has finalised his protagonists for the Hindi remake.

Sridevi's daughter, Jhanvi Kapoor, and Shahid Kapoor's half brother, Ishaan Khattar, are set to make their acting debuts in the Hindi remake of the film. The film is likely to be directed by Badrinath Ki Dulhania (2017) director, Shashank Khaitan. 

Kapoor and Khattar have been spotted together at move premières, the most recent being the special screening of Priyanka Chopra’s Baywatch. Rumour has it that Dharma Productions want the young actors to forge a bond between them before the film goes on floors. 

Neither Karan Johar nor the young actors have made any announcement. Cinestaan called director Shashank Khaitan neither denied nor affirmed the statement, but said, “It’s not right for me to comment. You’d perhaps have to wait for Dharma Productions to make an official announcement”

Directed by Nagraj Manjule, Sairat was a rural  love story that is marred by caste differences. The film turned actors Rinku Rajguru and Akash Thosar into household names. The popularity of the Marathi film stretched even to the Hindi belts, creating a cult following throughout the country. It would be interesting to see whether Johar and Khaitan stick to the setting of the film in rural Maharashtra or if they tweak the story to cater to a mainstream audience.