Varun Dhawan nods a no to an Aanand L Rai directorial

Aanand L Rai, a filmmaker known for delivering such commercially and critically successful films as Tanu Weds Manu (2011), Raanjhanaa (2013) and Tanu Weds Manu Returns (2015), is having a hard time in locking the cast of his next directorial venture.

For the unversed, the filmmaker has already roped in Dhanush and newcomer Sara Ali Khan to play lead roles in the movie. But the untitled project is a two-hero film and Rai is unable to find the actor who could play the parallel lead in it.

He had reportedly offered the film to Hrithik Roshan and then Ajay Devgn, but both the actors turned down the offer. The latest we hear that Varun Dhawan has also nodded a no to the project citing date issues.

"The director needs another big Bollywood star to step into the film and elevate the project. But whoever he is approaching is declining his offer. First, he was in advanced talks with Hrithik Roshan but after War (2019), he was apprehensive about doing a romantic saga. At this point, he wants to live up to his action star image,” a source close to the development tells a publication.

After Junior Roshan rejected the film, Aanand L Rai took it to Ajay Devgn who also did not show interest in doing it. "Ajay and Aanand wish to collaborate soon on another project that the filmmaker is planning, but not the Sara-Dhanush starrer,” adds the source.

"Aanand had finally taken his film to Varun Dhawan, after Hrithik opted out of it. Varun respects Aanand and wants to do a film with him, but at this point, his dates are completely blocked with Coolie No. 1, Ekkis and then Shashank Khaitan's Mr Lele. So, he also had to let it go,” the source says in conclusion.