Exclusive | Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Huma Qureshi complete Umar Qaid schedule in Lucknow, now shoot jail sequence in Bhopal

Actors Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Huma Qureshi have wrapped the Lucknow schedule for their feature film Umar Qaid and have now moved to Bhopal

Actors Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Huma Qureshi have wrapped the Lucknow schedule for their feature film Umar Qaid and have now moved to Bhopal. The team, led by writer-turned-director Vinay Chhawal, is currently shooting a jail sequence in Madhya Pradesh.

Actors Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Huma Qureshi, Manav Vij, Priyamani and Faisal Malik star in feature film Umar Qaid that was shot in Lucknow and now is being shot in Bhopal. Scene from shoot at Mehmudabad Palace in Lucknow and (inset) Nawaz

The film also stars Priyamani, Faisal Malik and Manav Vij, with the latter playing a cop. The line-producer, Gyanendra Singh, confirmed the schedule's completion. The team was stationed in Lucknow from November 30 to December 25 for the shoot.

“The jail sequence was scheduled to be shot in the Barabanki prison – where Anil Sharma’s Gadar 2 was filmed – but that could not happen. So the team moved to Bhopal, where they will shoot until January 1,” a source reveals.

The film has been shot for over three weeks in Malihabad and across various locations in Lucknow, including Qaiserbagh, Chowk, Naka Hindola, the Hussainabad heritage zone, and Mehmudabad Palace.

Produced by Academy Award winner Guneet Monga’s Sikhya Entertainment – which also made the Sanya Malhotra-starrer Pagglait in Lucknow – the shoot was largely kept under wraps.

“The shoot was kept under wraps until they filmed some portions at Rumi Gate and Clock Tower for a mela scene. Some local influencers made videos and posted them on social media. A few of these videos, which showed the actors in costume and in action, were later taken down,” adds the source.

Director Vinay Chhawal is known for writing films like Angrezi Medium (2020), Looop Lapeta (2022), and Zindagi inShort (2020), as well as the OTT series Asur: Welcome to Your Dark Side (2020).

Both Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Huma Qureshi, who garnered immense popularity after Gangs of Wasseypur 2, have shot for several films in Lucknow before. Huma has filmed for Jolly LLB 2 and her recent release Single Salmaa. Nawazuddin, on the other hand, has been part of multiple projects shot in the city, including Babumoshai Bandookbaaz (2018), Raat Akeeli Hai (2020), Jogira Sara Ra Ra! (2023) and recent OTT release Raat Akeli Hai: The Bansal Murders.