Saif Ali Khan and Vidya Balan Pair Up Again for Director Ritesh Batra's New Film

Filmmaker Ritesh Batra has started shooting his new comedy drama titled Long Years Ago in Mumbai, bringing together lead actors Saif Ali Khan and Vidya Balan on screen once more. The two stars previously worked together in Parineeta and Eklavya. International star Mélanie Laurent also joins the main cast of this upcoming project.

Production Team

Jio Studios is producing the movie alongside the production banner Good Chaos. Jyoti Deshpande is handling production duties for Jio Studios. Mike Goodridge and Teresa Moneo from Good Chaos are joined by Siddharth Mehra as the executive producers for the feature.

Cast Statements

Director Ritesh Batra shared his excitement about working with the lead trio to bring his close personal characters to life. Saif Ali Khan noted that the plot focuses on family, love, and unspoken feelings, praising the director's ability to reach viewers across different cultures. Vidya Balan mentioned that she has wanted to work with Batra since seeing The Lunchbox, adding that she is also glad to share screen space with Saif again since her acting debut. Mélanie Laurent stated that she first connected with the director a decade and a half ago at a film event in Morocco and always wanted to shoot a movie with him in Mumbai.

Context

Production houses often bring together well-known domestic stars and international names to give upcoming films a broader appeal across different markets. Ritesh Batra built his reputation as a writer and director through character-focused movies that have found both critical praise and global audiences. No official release date or plot summary has been shared by the makers yet.