Mid-day had previously reported that Aashiqui 3, starring Kartik Aaryan and Triptii Dimri had been indefinitely postponed, and director Anurag Basu was set to make a fresh romance saga featuring Aaryan along with a new leading lady (A love drama, indeed, January 14). It appears that the makers’ search has ended in Imanvi Esmail, a content creator who is already working with producer Bhushan Kumar on her debut movie alongside Prabhas.  

A source says that Kumar, the co-producer of the film starring Prabhas, has initiated a discussion with the primary producers to secure permissions to cast Esmail. “Imanvi has signed an agreement stating that she wouldn’t commit to any new film until Prabhas’ movie is released. Bhushan is talking to them to see if she can be cast in Kartik’s film because that will hit the screens after Prabhas’ movie. If the teams are unable to negotiate, the makers may look at other options,” says the insider.