Just days after Priyanka Chopra's announced her sudden exit from Bharat, it was reported that director Ali Abbas Zafar's good friend Katrina Kaif may fill in her shoes in the Salman Khan starrer.
While Priyanka was said to be busy in her engagement with beau Nick Jonas, the Bharat team was on the lookout for their leading actress. The makers have now finalized Katrina to play Salman's love interest in the upcoming film.
"I am extremely excited to work with Katrina Kaif and Salman Khan once again for Bharat. We have had exciting collaborations in the past and it is very interesting to work with the duo once again. It is very delightful to work with the immensely talented actress yet again," director Ali Abbas Zafar said. He seems quite excited to collaborate with Katrina Kaif and Salman Khan once again following the roaring success of Tiger Zinda Hai.
Bharat went on floors earlier this month and a grand circus sequence between Salman and Disha Patani is currently being shot. Katrina will soon be joining the shoot in the upcoming schedules starting from September.
Earlier, director Ali Abbas Zafar shared a sneak peek from the film sets giving a glimpse of Salman Khan performing a daredevil stunt on motorbike amidst a ring of fire.
Bharat's release also brings Salman Khan and director Ali Abbas Zafar back for an Eid release after the 2016 blockbuster hit, Sultan. It remains to be seen whether the director-actor duo will mark a hat-trick with Bharat after their last stint Tiger Zinda Hai. The movie is slated to release on Eid next year.
The film will feature Salman sporting five different looks spanning 60 years, while a crucial part will showcase the actor in his late 20s, looking much leaner and younger.
Bharat will be shot across exotic locations in Malta, Abu Dhabi, Punjab and Delhi. It is produced by Atul Agnihotri's Reel Life Production Pvt. Ltd and Bhushan Kumar's T-Series.
