Meghna Gulzar begins shooting for Talwar, Shefali Shah opts out, replaced by Tabu

Tabu, a very old favorite of Gulzar and his family is back in the family’s fold. The actress who considers the poet-filmmaker her father-figure has starred in his last two directorial ventures Maachis and Hu-tu-tu. Tabu also played the lead in Gulzar Saab’s daughter’s directorial debut Filhaal. Now she’s back in Meghna’s new directorial project entitled Talwar. Tabu steps into a role originally offered to Shefali Shah. Talwar also stars Irrfan Khan and Sohum Shah, that wonderful actor from Anand Gandhi’s Ship Of Theseus. Gulzar Saab’s reticent daughter Meghna Gulzar began shooting for her third feature film on Tuesday morning with minimum fanfare. The project has been entitled Talwar. The film is said to be based on the Arushi Talwar murder case. Apparently Meghna’s father has given the film its title, just as he has titled Megha’s two earlier feature films Filhaal and Just Married . Says a source close to the family, “It’s a family tradition. Meghna wants Gulzar Saab to select her films’ title. Gulzar’s Saab has zeroed in Talwar as at the title of his daughter’s third film.” The reclusive daughter of the poetic genius wants to keep the project under wraps because of the sensitive nature of the subject. However Irrfan Khan has confirmed his presence in Meghna’s film. The very talented Shefali Shah who was supposed to play a major role in Talwar had to opt out because of another female director. Says a source close to the project, “Meghna was very keen to have Shefali Shah play an important role. But Shefali’s dates in June and July were taken up by Zoya Akhtar’s Dil Dhadakne Do. She had no choice but to opt out.”