This Article is From Nov 03, 2016

Dear Zindagi, Has Tahir Raj Bhasin Replaced Ali Zafar? Here's The Truth

Dear Zindagi, Has Tahir Raj Bhasin Replaced Ali Zafar? Here's The Truth

Tahir Raj Bhasin photographed in Mumbai and Ali Zafar in a still from Kill Dil.

Highlights

  • 'Ali Zafar is still very much part of the film,' the source confirmed
  • 'Tahir was called on to shoot a promotional video,' the source added
  • Tahir Raj Basin is currently busy promoting Force 2
New Delhi: Fawad Khan wasn't dropped from Ae Dil Hai Mushkil, Mahira Khan stays in Raees and a Dharma Productions source has now told NDTV that Ali Zafar is not being replaced in this month's Dear Zindagi either.

On Wednesday, reports suggested that Mardaani star Tahir Raj Bhasin had been cast in place of Ali, one of the three Pakistani actors whose casting in Bollywood films raised objections from certain quarters in light of the Uri attacks.

However, a source close to Dear Zindagi co-producer Dharma confirmed to NDTV that Tahir is not replacing Ali. The source said: "Ali has not been replaced by Tahir and is still very much part of the film. Tahir was called on to shoot a promotional music video for the film. The actor shot the music video with Alia Bhatt in Mumbai soon after her return from Singapore, where she was shooting for Badrinath Ki Dulhania with Varun Dhawan."

Tahir Raj Basin is currently busy promoting his next, Force 2, with John Abraham and Sonakshi Sinha.

Ali Zafar's role in the Gauri Shinde-directed film has been under a shadow - as has Mahira Khan's appearance in Raees been - after Maharahstra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray objected to Fawad's presence in Karan Johar's Ae Dil Hai Mushkil. The film released last week after Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis intervened, ending weeks of controversy.

By happy chance, actor Shah Rukh Khan appears in all three films - his is the central character of Raees, Dear Zindagi pits him opposite Alia Bhatt and Ae Dil Hai Mushkil featured a cameo.

Team Dear Zindagi has decided to release songs and teasers from the film instead of a full trailer. The movie is a coming of age story of Kaira (played by Alia), an aspiring cinematographer who rediscovers herself through her encounters with three men, played by Angad Bedi, Kunal Kapoor and Aditya Roy Kapur. Ali Zafar will be seen playing a brooding rockstar, who has a chance encounter with Kaira.

Shah Rukh Khan will play life coach to Alia's character in the film. In an interview to NDTV, Alia said: "I am grateful as an actor that I'm being given these opportunities - to do films with diverse themes and actors I admire."

Dear Zindagi hits screens on November 25.
 
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