Randeep Hooda not part of Iulia Vantur's maiden film: Director Prem Soni

Actor-producer Salman Khan's rumoured girlfriend Iulia Vantur is now set to make her debut as an actress in a crime drama, to be helmed by Ishkq In Paris (2013) director Prem Soni. There were reports that actor Randeep Hooda has been roped in to play the male lead. However, the director of the film has denied signing Hooda for the project.

“I can’t talk about the cast but what I can tell you is that Mr. Randeep Hooda is not part of it. He is a very fine actor and one day we would like to work with him but it is just a rumour that he was part of our film," Soni told Cinestaan.com.

According to a trade source, Happy Phirr Bhag Jayegi (2018) actor Jimmy Sheirgill will play the lead. 

“Jimmy Sheirgill, and not Randeep Hooda has been signed to play the male lead. The film is said to be based on a true event, a crime involving a European tourist who was [allegedly] exploited by an Indian bank official. Of course, as we saw in Rustom (2016), this film, too, will use a true incident to tell a fictionalised story. It was an apt role for Vantur to play. Sheirgill is likely to play the investigative officer who cracked the case. The project is being produced by Five Elements Studio,  a new joint venture, that has Prernaa Arora as one of the owners,” the source informed.

The untitled film is one of the two films being helmed by Soni for Five Elements. “I have a two-film deal with Five Elements, which is a company that Prernaa Arora also owns. This [untitled film with Iulia Vantur] goes on floors soon. It is based on a true event. Prernaa’s company has always had content driven films that really pick on. I’m happy that they have green lit two projects of mine and I’m really looking forward to this association,” the director added.

As reported earlier, Arora is also co-producing a supernatural film with Arjun Rampal in the lead. This film will go on floors in September, while Soni's film is expected to go on floors in November. 

Vantur shot to fame in her home country, Romania, by hosting live TV shows. She then attained popularity in India after being spotted with Khan. Though rumoured to be a couple, Vantur has always maintained that Khan is a dear friend. She did a cameo in O Teri (2014) and has sung in a few Hindi film songs, including Khan's version of 'Baby Nu Bass Pasand Hai' from Sultan (2016).