BHUMI PEDNEKAR OPENS UP ABOUT HER NEXT WITH ABHISHEK CHAUBEY

After Dum Laga Ke Haisha actor Bhumi Pednekar completed a hat-trick of hits with Toilet: Ek Prem Katha and Shubh Mangal Saavdhan, she confirmed her next project Chambal, in which she will be cast alongside Sushant Singh Rajput. The film, which is to be directed by Udta Punjab fame director Abhishek Chaubey, revolves around the Chambal dacoits and is set in the 1970s.  It is being produced by Ronnie Screwvala and is slated to go on floors in January.

Sharing her excitement about the film, Bhumi said in an interview with DNA, “I was dying to tell the world that I’m doing the film because I’m such a big Abhishek Chaubey fan. When I got the call, I was flying. He has been on my wish list since I watched Ishqiya. I have known of his work because I’m a very big Vishal Bhardwaj fan, too. Omkara is one of the reasons why I’m acting in films.”

Describing her reaction when she got the offer for this project she added, “I initially thought that probably he’s producing the film. This was way before even the TEPK trailer was out. I met him and realised that he’d called me for his film. He gave me a narration and I was just star-struck because I love him, and his movies... I generally love talented people, especially filmmakers. I heard the film and I immediately said, ‘I’m doing it’. It took me one second to say yes. I told them I don’t want to read the script or anything. Otherwise, there’s always a process.”

Reveling about her special preparations for the venture she said,  “We are starting in January. We need to put in a lot of prep before we go on the floor. There are going to be hardcore workshops and dialect coaching. It’s going to be set in a different era, and it’s going to be a tough film to make, both, physically and mentally. I don’t know how I’m going to express the emotion that the character is supposed to feel. I am going to tap into layers and shades in me, which I am not even sure exists.”

Unlike Bhumi's other three films, this time the actress will be seen in a completely different avatar and might also be doing some action sequences. She partially spoke about her character in the film as well, and said, "I’m very excited because people will see a different aspect to my personality with Chambal. The action, the crazy bit of it...When I met him, he was like this is a very stylised, action film. And I was like, ‘You are sure, right?’ He had more confidence in me that I’d pull it off. I’m very excited to explore this other facet of my personality."

Are you excited to watch Bhumi in a different avatar? Share your thoughts in the comment section below.