Is Saif Ali Khan's next with Priyadarshan a remake of this film?

After his new film with Akshay Kumar, the horror-comedy titled Bhoot Bangla, filmmaker Priyadarshan is expected to make a thriller next, with Saif Ali Khan, a first-time collaboration.

The actor will reportedly play a visually impaired character, according to Bollywood Hungama, to which the actor confirmed the news. “Yes, I am doing a film with Priyadarshan next. I play a blind guy. Very exciting,” he said.

Meanwhile, Priyadarshan said he is a fan of Saif and his screen presence and has always yearned to make a "suitable" film with him.

The news has led Priyadarshan fans, especially from Kerala, to speculate whether the film will be a Hindi-language remake of the Mohanlal-starrer Oppam, a 2016 thriller directed by Priyadarshan, parts of which were said to be inspired by the 2011 Korean thriller Blind and the 1991 Martin Scorsese thriller Cape Fear. And given Priyadarshan's history of doing remakes of not only his own films but also of other directors, the speculation is only natural.

Reports of Saif and Priyadarshan teaming up have been doing the rounds since last year. At the time, Peepingmoon.com had specifically mentioned that Saif was in advanced talks to play a blind man suspected of murder in the "Hindi remake of Priyadarshan’s 2016 blockbuster, Oppam."

The report also said that Priyadarshan has tweaked the script to make it accessible to Hindi-speaking audiences and that Bobby Deol was approached to play the villain, however, there is no confirmation of his involvement yet. Tamil actor Samuthirakani played the antagonist in the original.

Interestingly, Ajay Devgn was first reported to be circling Mohanlal's role right after Oppam came out. But it seems the actor is no longer attached.

In the meantime, Saif is gearing up for his latest, Jewel Thief: The Heist Begins, a Netflix thriller slated for premiere on April 25. 

Entertainment