Salman Khan plays big brother to Sooraj Pancholi, Pulkit Samrat

Salman Khan has roped in writer Umesh Bisht to adapt the script for Sooraj Pancholi’s debut film, remake of Hero. Interestingly, Pulkit Samrat will star with Salman Khan in filmmaker Sooraj Barjatya’s next, tentatively titled Bade Bhaiyya.

Salman Khan hasn’t shied away from lending his support to Sooraj Pancholi.

He had also specially met Aditya Pancholi’s son in Hyderabad while shooting for Mental and followed it up with a couple of other meetings. And now, even as the youngster readies for his Bollywood debut, we have come to know that Salman has officially kicked off the Hero (1983) remake, by roping in writer-director Umesh Bisht to pen the script.

Interestingly, Rajat Aroraa (who has written the Once Upon A Time... series and The Dirty Picture; 2011) was also being considered, but Salman has finalised Umesh for the job. The latter is already directing O Teri!, produced by Salman’s brother-in-law Atul Agnihotri, in which the star will make a special appearance.

“Salman has known Umesh for some time. He was the one who introduced him to Atul after being left impressed by his script. So he is confident that Umesh will do an impressive job of adapting the original script,” says an insider close to the actor. “Umesh has already started the initial work,” the source says.

Right now, Umesh is also busy with the post-production work of his political satire, O Teri!, for which the main shooting is already over. “Now, Salman needs to shoot a song and some scenes which he is likely to do once he’s back from London (he is shooting for Sajid Nadiadwala’s Kick in the UK capital). Once he is completely done with O Teri!, Umesh will focus on the Hero remake,” adds the insider.

While Umesh couldn’t be reached for a comment, Subhash Ghai, the co-producer of film, says, “Yes, we have signed Umesh (Bisht) to write the script.”

Pulkit in Sooraj Barjatya’s next project with Khan? (Shalvi Mangaokar reports)

Rumour has it that actor Pulkit Samrat, who is Salman Khan’s protege, is now all set to star with him in filmmaker Sooraj Barjatya’s next, tentatively titled Bade Bhaiyya.

Pulkit, who is already part of Salman’s Mental and O Teri!, will now apparently play his younger brother in Barjatya’s remake of the Telugu film, Seethamma Vakitlo Sirimalle Chettu.

An industry insider reveals, “Bade Bhaiyya will have an ensemble cast. It is going to be a big-budget film, something Barjatya is typically known for. Salman will return to the big screen as Prem and Pulkit will play the role of his younger brother.” The makers will begin shooting for the movie by next year and are likely to film it in Gujarat.

Incidentally, after Pulkit’s last film, Fukrey, released, Salman praised the actor for his performance on Twitter.

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