Vishal Bhardwaj defers Deepika Padukone and Irrfan Khan’s next – Here’s why

Irrfan and Deepika in Piku.

Mumbai: Piku couple Irrfan Khan and Deepika Padukone will reunite onscreen for Vishal Bhardwaj’s untitled next. But the film will go on floors only after a few months.

The makers of the film were planning to start shooting for the film soon but owing to unavoidable circumstances, Vishal decided to reschedule it.

The ace filmmaker took to Facebook to mention why the film has been delayed.

He took to his Facebook page to write:

“I am pushing back the film by a few months as both of my lead actors are down with different health problems. Irrfan is down with jaundice and it will take him a few weeks to recover and Deepika Padukone's back problem which had previously developed during the shooting of Padmaavat has now resurfaced. Her role in the film is very physically demanding and the doctor has advised her not to do any strenuous work for a couple of months.

In the past few weeks, I felt like I was back in the days of Maqbool while prepping with them. Deepika and Irrfan’s look tests have come out exceptionally well, nothing like you’ve seen before, and it took me a moment to recognize them when I saw the test photographs.

I want both of them to be strong and fit before we start the film. I would also like to clear that the film is still untitled and is not based on Rahima Khan/Sapna Didi’s life. Yes, it’s a takeoff from the story Femme Fatale from Hussain Zaidi’s book Mafia Queens of Mumbai but as we worked on this idea, the story and screenplay have taken on a new identity and shape which is nowhere close to the above-mentioned names. Hence, it’s definitely not a biopic.(sic).”