Hansal Mehta turns to comedy with Turram Khan starring Rajkummar Rao, Nushrat Bharucha

After dealing with the dark world of realistic and serious cinema, director Hansal Mehta is in the mood for something lighter. He announced his next film, Turram Khan, a comedy set in Uttar Pradesh. The film will mark the return of Mehta to the genre of comedy for the first time since his directorial debut with Dil Pe Mat Le Yaar!! (2000). 

The film will star Rajkummar Rao and Nushrat Bharucha. While Rajkummar has been a regular collaborator with Mehta on Shahid (2013), Citylights (2014), Aligarh (2016) and Omerta (2018), this will be Bharucha's first film with the acclaimed filmmaker. However, Bharucha and Rajkummar were previously part of Dibakar Banerjee's LSD: Love, Sex Aur Dhokha (2010). 

Speaking about the movie, Mehta said," I am delighted to be collaborating with Luv [Luv Ranjan, producer] on this very exciting comedy. It is a new chapter in my filmography with Raj [Rajkummar Rao] whose success I see as a vindication of my belief in him. It is also wonderful to be working with Nushrat whose work I’ve followed and liked immensely in the past. This is my first out-and-out comedy and it is like making my debut all over again!”

Making his fifth film with Mehta, Rajkummar described it as, "Turram Khan is a comedy that the audience will take back home. Hansal sir plays a very instrumental role in my acting career. He has created some interesting and memorable characters for me. I trust him blindly. I have known Nushrat since our days of auditioning and screen tests. I am sure this is going to be a fun collaboration." 

Bharucha, who was last seen in the hit, Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety (2018), is also excited. "I absolutely love Hansal sir’s cinema and I’m looking forward to play this earthy character rooted in UP as the audience will see me in a completely different light. Over the years, Raj’s journey as an actor has been an inspiring one. He and Hansal sir have a formidable camaraderie and I am super excited to work with them," she said.

Turram Khan will be produced by Ajay Devgn's Ajay Devgn Films, Luv Ranjan and Ankur Garg. The team is expected to start filming in November.