Romancing the past?

Anurag Basu and Kartik Aaryan

There has been much interest around Aashiqui 3 ever since filmmaker Anurag Basu and actor Kartik Aaryan announced it last year. Now, word on the street is that for the franchise's third instalment, the makers are planning to revisit Baseraa (1981), which starred Shashi Kapoor, Rakhee and Rekha.

Kapoor and Rekha in Baseraa

Baseraa, based on a Marathi novel by Leela Phansalkar and written by Gulzar, told the story of a middle-aged married couple whose lives turn upside down when the husband's first wife returns home from a mental institution after over a decade. A source close to the development reveals, "The third instalment has been tentatively titled Tu Aashiqui Hai. The team was looking for a narrative with a powerful love story at the core. In Baseraa, they appear to have found a match. The scripting has begun, and the material will be adapted to the current times." The casting for primary characters is underway. The source adds, "Tripti Dimrii is one of the female leads opposite Kartik. The makers are yet to lock the third actor." The director apparently plans to roll the film in the second half of 2024.

Right at the time of going to press, Basu, on his part, for now, however denied the buzz.