Aashiqui 3: After Triptii Dimri's exit, Imanvi Esmail in talks to star opposite Kartik Aaryan; Sara Ali Khan as backup option?

Production on Aashiqui 3, which starred Triptii Dimri and Kartik Aaryan, reportedly stalled indefinitely after it became known that Anurag Basu was planning to cast the leading star in a new romantic drama alongside a new leading lady. Producer Bhushan Kumar appears to have found his perfect match in content creator Imanvi Esmail. The newcomer is now collaborating with Prabhas on her debut film.

Imanvi Esmail in talks for her Bollywood debut

As per Mid Day, Kumar, who is also a co-producer, has reportedly begun talks with the film's principal producers in order to get Esmail cast, according to the source. The agreement stated that Imanvi pledged to refrain from committing to any new film until the release of Prabhas'. Kumar is enquiring about the potential casting of Imanvi in Kartik's film, given its scheduled release following Prabhas'. The insider told the tabloid that the makers may look at other options if the teams are unable to negotiate. 

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People were left wondering if Triptii was ever considered joining Kartik in the upcoming film, considering there is no talk of animosity between the producers and her. The actor has a six-month engagement with Vishal Bhardwaj's project, necessitating the consideration of alternative possibilities. The film also requires a fresh face, and much hinges on the actors' chemistry and their ability to pass the look test. Sara Ali Khan, with whom Anurag recently collaborated on Metro... In Dino, is another strong candidate for the part. Should the filmmakers fail to strike a deal with Imanvi, they will move on to Sara. The makers will make all film casting decisions by the end of the month.

Imanvi Esmail’s rise to fame and background

Directed by Hanu Raghavapudi, who was responsible for the highly praised Sita Ramam (2022), the film will include Prabhas and Imanvi's first film together. Growing up in the US, the ambitious actor's mother introduced her to legendary Bollywood dancers like Vyjayanthimala, Madhuri Dixit, and Rekha, whose expressive choreography and classical technique piqued her interest in the art form.

A total of 902K people followed her on Instagram, and her dancing videos had over 1.8 million views on YouTube. She became famous in 2020 after her dance routine from the 1999 Taal song Ramta Jogi became an internet sensation. After her performance of Tum Tum attracted the attention of filmmakers in 2023, it became another viral sensation. Meanwhile, Mithun Chakraborty and Jaya Prada play important roles in the film alongside Prabhas and Esmail.

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