Saif Ali Khan to start filming for Rahul Dholakia’s period drama after Jewel Thief promotions

Saif Ali Khan. Pics/Kirti Surve Parade, Instagram, Facebook

In January, mid-day had reported that the shoot of Saif Ali Khan's film with director Rahul Dholakia had to be deferred from its January 20 date after the attack on the actor in his Bandra home earlier that week (Saif's health above all else, Jan 19). Three months on, the period piece, which chronicles India's first general election, has gone on floors. Sources tell us that the yet-untitled film rolled on April 20 near Grand Hotel in Ballard Estate, with Khan expected to join this week. It will mark his first shoot since his attack.

The actor plays Sukumar Sen, India's first Chief Election Commissioner, alongside Pratik Gandhi and Deepak Dobriyal in the Nikkhil Advani production. The director is said to have kicked off filming with a crowd scene. An insider tells us, "The set had over 200 extras who formed the crowd. It was a charged sequence with Pratik and Deepak. The unit will shoot across different locations in the city over the next few weeks. Saif and the director intend to shoot a chunk of the drama by May-end. The actor has wrapped up the promotions for Jewel Thief, and will turn his attention to this project in the coming days."

The film also stars Pratik Gandhi; (right) Rahul Dholakia

In their first collaboration, Dholakia and Khan will offer a retelling of how Sen orchestrated the country's inaugural general election that was held between October 1951 and February 1952. The Indian National Congress secured a majority, leading to Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru's appointment as the first Prime Minister. The source adds, "The period is vital to the storytelling. The production design team will build massive sets depicting India of the 1950s."

Who is Sukumar Sen, the character Saif Ali Khan plays?

Sukumar Sen was the first Election Commissioner of India, who oversaw the first two elections in the then-newly independent country. While the inaugural general election was held between October 1951 and February 1952, the second took place between February and March 1957.