Nushrat Bharucha, Sunny Kaushal team up for Hurdang

Sunny Kaushal and Nushrat Bharucha will lead Shailesh R Singh's next production venture, Hurdang. To be directed by Nikhil Bhat, the film will also feature Vijay Varma in an important role.

Shailesh Singh already has two major productions under his banner, Karma Media and Entertainment, lined up for this year. One of these is Rajkummar Rao and Kangana Ranaut's Mental Hai Kya (2019) while the other is Parineeti Chopra and Sidharth Malhotra's Jabariya Jodi (2019).

Director Nikhil Bhat said, "I am very glad I got an opportunity to direct this film. Hurdang is a hard-hitting subject that is sure to touch a chord with all." 

Describing the story, Bhat said, "This is a story inspired by true incidents. In the year 1990, as a kid, I saw thousands of youngsters getting involved in the fight for their rights [the anti-Mandal Commission agitation], the students fought for two whole years. They were angry for being taken for granted and for two years the students’ lives came to a standstill. Every other day there was a bandh or a dharna. The students’ agitation was not politically motivated; they were fighting for their rights. Lots of lives were lost and lots of lives were rendered directionless. They say love stories coming out of duress stall tall. Hurdang is a love story set in these times." 

Actor Vijay Varma, in a statement, said of his casting in the project, "I'm looking forward to work with this wonderful team. And can't wait to explore this challenging part. Excited to go back to the 1990s."

Producer Shailesh R Singh said, "It’s a young, restless love story from the 1990s. People in the 1990s were innocent and vulnerable. They didn’t have the advantage of technology the way youngsters have now. There was a deep desire to fight for your cause and claim your right. Sunny, Nushrat and Vijay fit in, naturally. Sunny and Nushrat play students coming from different ideologies and backgrounds, but a couple destined to be together. They play childhood lovers who have grown up together. Both Sunny and Nushrat bring innocent and palpable energy naturally into the story."

Hurdang will be Kaushal's third major project since Gold (2018). The actor is also part of Kunal Deshmukh's ensemble film Shiddat and the RSVP production Bhangra Paa Le. 

Bharucha, meanwhile, has a busy year with the Hansal Mehta-directed Turram Khan yet to start, as well as Dream Girl with Ayushmann Khurrana later in September.