Sushant and Sara to play Hindu-Muslim lovers in 'Kedarnath'

Sushant Singh Rajput and Sara Ali Khan

His last outing, the romance-drama Fitoor (2016) failed to garner attention from cinephiles, but Abhishek Kapoor's next has already piqued curiosity given that it marks the debut of Saif Ali Khan's daughter, Sara.

Last week, the filmmaker kicked off Kedarnath with leading man Sushant Singh Rajput in the picturesque temple town, where the star kid turns up on set daily to play mute observer, until she commences shooting for her scenes later this week.

A source from the unit chronicles the film's premise, highlighting that Kapoor will attempt to do justice to the typical rich-girl-poor-guy romance template with this forbidden love story. Rajput, who plays a Muslim pithoo, will be seen romancing Khan, the daughter of a local Hindu priest, who belongs to an affluent family. "The biggest strength of Kedarnath is its story, which depicts how the relationship between two lovers blossoms amidst obstacles, including opposition from the girl's family. Apart from her father, who has political connections, there is opposition from other forces too. While rumours suggest Sara plays a rich tourist, she in fact, essays the role of a local girl from Kedarnath."

While Khan is yet to face the camera, she has been utilising her time on set to learn various aspects of filmmaking. "Although she has been brought up in luxury, Sara has been residing at a lodge in Kedarnath, adapting to the freezing temperature. She doesn't throw her weight around. She is independent, and turns up on set to observe the developments, even when she's not required."