The Zoya Factor: Did You Know Shah Rukh Khan Was Supposed to Make This Movie Before Sonam Kapoor-Dulquer Salmaan Stepped In?

Malayalam heartthrob Dulquer Salmaan has now signed his second Bollywood movie after Karwaan, and it is a biggie. He has been roped in to play the male lead in the movie adaptation of the bestseller, The Zoya Factor, and he will be romancing Sonam Kapoor in the movie. Actually, it is Sonam who would be the main lead here, as it is her character's story. The book had been the debut work of the author Anuja Chauhan, which instantly propelled her to limelight, because...cricket! The movie would be directed by Abhishek Sharma of Tere Bin Laden fame.

Sonam Kapoor had already been eyeing to adapt this book as a movie from her Khoobsurat days, with rumours that Fawad Khan might play the male lead. However, since the ban on Pakistan actors, after the Uri attacks, has not been lifted, the makers looked for a suitable replacement and that ended in Dulquer Salmaan.

However before Sonam stepped in, the movie adaptation of the book was already in the burner for nine years. Believe it or not, it was Shah Rukh Khan who had bagged the rights to make the movie on the book. It was with him for three years and Shirish Kunder was pencilled to take on the directorial reins. This was way back in 2009. However, they couldn't find a suitable girl to play the leading lady and Shirish and SRK had their infamous spat (though they later made up). With no development on that front, SRK lost the rights, and Sonam Kapoor bagged them without any hesitation.

Sonam Kapoor will play Zoya, an advertising executive who was born on the day India won the World Cup in 1983. When she is doing a campaign for the Indian Cricket team, who is on a losing streak during a series, the players learn about this fact and ask her to sit with them at the breakfast table before the match. In a surprising turn of events, the team win that match, and the media wasted no time in giving the credit to Zoya's luck. The team's management wants her to accompany the team in every match they play. While she reluctantly agrees to this, this brings her at crossroads with the newly appointed skipper of the team, Khoda, who feels Zoya takes away the credit of their hard-earned victories. Dulquer will be taking on this role.

Interestingly, Shah Rukh Khan has a small role to play in the book, as Zoya was supposed to do a campaign with him. It remains to be seen if this part is retained for the movie.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Mar 13, 2018 12:53 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).