The cameras are officially rolling in Mumbai for Ritesh Batra’s latest directorial venture, ‘Long Years Ago’. The comedy-drama, which is set against the backdrop of 1991, features an eclectic lead cast including Saif Ali Khan, Vidya Balan, and French star Melanie Laurent. The story promises an emotional deep dive into the dynamics of a family forced to confront long-held secrets and the words they have left unsaid for far too long.
This project marks a highly anticipated reunion for Saif and Vidya, who last shared the screen in their debut film, the iconic ‘Parineeta’. Vidya, a long-time admirer of Batra’s work since his breakout hit ‘The Lunchbox’, expressed her excitement about finally collaborating with the filmmaker. Saif also shared his enthusiasm, noting that he felt an immediate connection to the script and its exploration of universal themes like love and familial struggle. For Melanie Laurent, the film is a dream come true, as the ‘Inglourious Basterds’ actress revealed she and Batra had been planning to work together in Mumbai since they first met at the Marrakech Film Festival fifteen years ago.
Behind the scenes, the film is a massive collaborative effort. It is being produced by Adeel Ahmed and Ritesh Batra’s banner, Poetic License, in partnership with Jio Studios and Good Chaos. Jyoti Deshpande is producing on behalf of Jio Studios, with Mike Goodridge, Teresa Moneo, and Siddharth Mehra serving as executive producers. While the cast and crew have kicked off the shoot with high spirits, the makers have yet to announce a formal release date for the project.