Recently, Sonam revealed that Battle for Bittora will be among the films she will front next year, adding that the team is currently looking for the male lead and a director. Chauhan’s novel tells the story of childhood friends-turned-sweethearts, Sarojini and Zain, who battle it out at elections, putting their love to the test. Does the fact that the story is set against the backdrop of a political battle make it a tricky project to pull off? Rhea says that in such subjects, authenticity is the aim. “I want the story to be told as authentically as possible, and ensure we do full justice to the palette. Right actors are integral to the film. The script is the most romantic one we have worked on. We don’t want to compromise on any aspect.”

It is hard to put together a rom-com in an industry that is obsessed with crime thrillers and actioners. But Rhea has always pushed films she believed in—be it Khoobsurat (2014) or Veere Di Wedding (2018)—and it will be the same for Battle for Bittora. “Many scripts take a while to get off the ground. Veere Di Wedding was developed over three years. [Work on] The Crew started right after Veere, and it’s done only now. Bittora, too, has been in development for a while. My father Anil Kapoor has a principle: push yourself to make the content better. We work as a boutique production house where development is serious business. I’ll never give up on the movie; it’s my favourite. It will 100 per cent happen. But I want all the pieces to come together.”