Exit Safary, enter Chheda

Call it a co-incidence or a turn of fortunes! Tanay Chheda, the physically challenged kid who helped Darsheel Safary in Taare Zameen Par, is now going to replace Safary in Ajay Monga’s Padduram.

Call it a co-incidence or a turn of fortunes! Tanay Chheda, the physically challenged kid who helped Darsheel Safary in Taare Zameen Par, is now going to replace Safary in Ajay Monga’s Padduram.

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Safary was the first choice to play the lead in Monga’s kiddie movie but the director was forced to think of a replacement because the Aamir Khan protégé asked for a whopping Rs 1.25 crore as remuneration.

First choice

Monga auditioned Chheda on Thursday and was pleased with his new choice. “He’s supremely confident. I guess Slumdog Millionaire has worked wonders for Tanay,” says Monga.

The film is about two friends and their rapport with other kids. “Tanay is the main lead and I’m looking for a new face for the second lead,”

Monga says. The shooting is expected to start in April.