Ajay Devgan will soon begin work on Sajid Khan’s next, which according to the director, is based on the cult Jeetendra film, Himmatwala (1983). Even as the actor prepares to shoot for the action flick, the makers continue their hunt for a new Sridevi to cast opposite him.

The latest development is that they have decided to rope in an actor from the south for the role. “Our heroine should have the same purity and innocence that Srideviji had in Himmatwala. She was a superstar down south when she was cast for it. And then she entered Bollywood in a big way. So that has inspired us to cast a south Indian star. I’ve spoken to Ajay and he’s fine with that,” reveals Sajid, adding that not too many established Bollywood actors fit the requirements needed for the role, which is why none are in the running.

Sajid, who has worked with Asin in Housefull 2, also credits her professionalism for his decision to pick a south Indian face. “If the call time (for south actors) is seven o’clock in the morning, they will be ready at that time sans any issues.” Himmatwala set in a small town of Uttar Pradesh goes on the floors this August. “Ajay will have a lot of raw and rugged action scenes in the film. But it won’t be like Singham or any of his other movies. He’s quite excited about it himself,” says Sajid, who has also roped in Rishi Kapoor and Prakash Raj for the other major roles in the film.

 “Rishi Kapoor will do a comic role after a while,” says Sajid. Bring up the topic of his film being touted as a remake and he clarifies, “The only thing I can say about my film is that it is based on the yesteryear film. Otherwise, it’s a completely new story in a contemporary set-up.”