After the 2013 National Award-winning film, Bhaag Milkha Bhaag, actor-singer-director Farhan Akhtar is all set to reunite with ace filmmaker Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra for another sports-drama, titled Toofan. The film sees Farhan play a boxer for the first time in his career and he has been training for his character. Now adding to the excitement, we hear that veteran actor Paresh Rawal has joined the cast of the upcoming film and will feature as a boxing coach to Farhan’s protagonist, who comes from a lower middle-class family. “The formalities were locked in April and Paresh has been training with Farhan in Mumbai for over a month now,” informed a source close to the development to a leading daily.
Sharing his excitement on getting Paresh on board, Rakeysh pointed out to the daily, “Every director has a bucket list of actors and Paresh bhai was on the top of mine. I am absolutely thrilled to have him entering the Toofan family. Both Paresh and Farhan are great actors and both their characters are author-backed and well sketched out. There is a huge offering in store for the audience." Interestingly, for the role, Farhan has been training extensively with former world kickboxing champion, Drew Neal. “Rakeysh wants to keep the sport as authentic as possible. Farhan will be seen fighting real boxers in the film,” concluded the source.
Backed by Ritesh Sidhwani, Farhan and Rakeysh, Toofan is written by Anjum Rajabali. The film is slated to go on floors by August-end, and the makers are looking at a 2020 release.
(Source: Mumbai Mirror)
