The OTT platforms are no longer the go-to place for only supporting actors. With the streaming services witnessing an unprecedented boom in viewership in India, the big Bollywood stars, as well as the actors who're known for playing small roles in mainstream Hindi masalas, are all venturing into OTT. And now it's the turn of Riteish Deshmukh to take the digital plunge and follow the footsteps of his Masti co-star Aftab Shivdasani who embraced the web culture with Zee5's Poison 2 last year.
Peepingmoon.com has exclusively learned that Riteish Deshmukh is making his OTT debut with a Netflix film to be directed by Shashanka Ghosh who has previously helmed the box office hits such as Sonam Kapoor's Khoobsurat (2014) and Kareena Kapoor Khan's Veere Di Wedding (2018). Screenwriter Rajat Arora, known for his films like Kick, The Dirty Picture, Ek Villain, and Once Upon A Time In Mumbai has written and is also producing the film. Arora is making his foray into production with this yet-untitled web film that's also likely to feature a top South actress alongside Deshmukh.
This Netflix Original was earlier supposed to go on floors in late February but was pushed after the Maharashtra government announced the lockdown in response to the devastating COVID-19 wave currently ravaging India. The film is now scheduled to hit the floors in July if the shooting restrictions are lifted by then. Riteish Deshmukh is said to be playing a larger-than-life character in this social-comedy, meant for a 2022 premiere.
Meanwhile, Deshmukh has started prepping for his ambitious period drama on Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj that will be directed by Sairat fame Nagraj Manjule. He is also said to have signed yet another film for Ronnie Screwvala's banner which might roll before he dives deep into his Marathi epic. Shashanka Ghosh, on the other hand, is also working on the Hindi adaptation of Hollywood comedy-drama, Begin Again besides reviving his years-old gangster drama script with an Alice In Wonderland vibe.
