Mira Nair’s A Suitable Boy, starring Tabu and Ishaan Khatter is being anticipated for quite some time now. The actors finally released the first look from the film, where Ishaan is seen besotted by Tabu, as they sit inside an old-looking mansion.
Sharing the picture, Ishaan wrote, “A Suitable Boy.. first look.” In this BBC adaptation of Vikram Seth’s 1993 novel by the same name, Ishaan will star as Maan Kapoor, the headstrong son of a politician who is besotted by Saeeda Bai, a courtesan played by Tabu. After starring opposite Pankaj Kapur and Shahid Kapoor, Tabu will now be seen with Ishaan.
The drama is being penned by British screenwriter Andrew Davies and produced by Lookout Point.
Set in 1951 amidst newly liberated and partitioned India, A Suitable Boy is a tale of four families told through spirited university student Lata, who will be played by newcomer Tanya Maniktala, and her three suitors – Kabir, Haresh and Amit.
Vijay Varma, of Gully Boy fame will also be seen in the film, playing the character of Rasheed, a student at Brahmpur University and a teacher of Arabic. The shooting for this six-part BBC series began in September this year. The other actors include Randeep Hooda, Shefali Shah, Rasika Dugal, Vijay Raaz, Vivan Shah amongst many others.
Mira Nair said she decided to work on the screen adaptation because she believes A Suitable Boy has become "timelier" than ever. “Vikram tells the story of a free India and our people with wit, clarity and love – I am deeply honoured to be the one bringing this intimate, epic tale of an unseen India to the world. Today, A Suitable Boy is timelier than ever,” she said in a statement.
(At The Quint, we question everything. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member today.)