Zoya Akhtar confirms next film’s on street rappers. Will Ranveer Singh star in 'Gully Boy'?

Director Zoya Akhtar, who set a benchmark in the industry with her films Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara and Dil Dhadakne Do, is all set to make her next — a coming-of-age story based on the lives of street rappers from Mumbai’s chawls and ghettos.

Rumoured to be titled Gully Boy, Zoya, who is currently scripting the film along with Reema Kagti, told Firstpost in this exclusive chat: “Yes, my next film is inspired by real life street rappers. I watched these kids on the Net and they just blew my mind. I didn’t know that this kind of music was coming out of the lanes and by-lanes of Mumbai. People are so consumed with listening to just film music that nobody pays attention to some serious talent on the streets. That is how it all started.” However, she added, “It is too early to talk. The film is not yet cast. We will roll sometime next year.”

Zoya’s film is inspired by Internet sensations like Divine and Naezy from Mumbai, who command quite the fan following. We heard that as part of their research, Zoya and Reema have been hanging out with both the rappers and the duo has been helping the filmmakers shape the script in a significant way. The film also draws extensively from the works of other politically incorrect rappers, including Muck Fodi (Ashwini Mishra) whose music focuses on politician-bashing; Kolkata-based Vik Sen aka Feyago, who won 2014’s best hip-hop underground artist award at the country’s most popular music awards, among others.

Speculation is ride that Ranveer Singh will play the main protagonist — an underdog who rises from the slums of Mumbai to become a rapper addressing Dalit oppression, street life, economic inequality and homosexuality and even corrupt politicians. Interestingly, Ranveer himself is a very good rapper in real life; he used to rap and create radio jingles before he became an actor. He has rapped in an ad film as well. Word is that Ranveer will rap in Urdu, Hindi and Marathi for this hard-hitting film.

There’s also the fact that Ranveer and Zoya ar very vocal about their fondness for each other and have expressed a desire to team up ever since their 2015 summer release, Dil Dhadakne Do. In interviews given at the time of Dil Dhadakne Do’s release, Ranveer had said that he knew Zoya from his struggling days and bonded most with her from the unit. He also said he hoped to keep collaborating with Zoya on each of her films.

Zoya has reportedly had many meetings with Ranveer for her new film, but has refused to divulge any further information about the project. “Yes, there’s a comfort level with Ranveer but I am comfortable with most of the actors I have worked with. I am comfortable with Farhan and I love working with Hrithik. Then, I really enjoyed my space with Katrina (Kaif), she is a pleasure to work with. And so is Priyanka (Chopra), Anushka (Sharma), Kalki (Koechlin) and of course, Anil Kapoor. I have really been lucky with all my actors,” said Zoya, adding that she wants to dabble in different genres of filmmaking: “I want to make different kinds of films, films with different themes. I really liked Piku and Bajrangi Bhaijaan in the recent past and now I want to watch Sairat and Court, I had missed these two films.”