After winning over audiences with a slice of Bangaliana in Maacher Jhol, t2 boy Pratim D. Gupta is ready to hit the floors with his next feature film in January 2018. The yet-to-be-titled film is Pratim’s “little tribute to love, with a twist.”

“It’s a montage of love stories amongst people who are not allowed to fall in love. Sometimes because of what they do, sometimes because of where they come from, sometimes because of where they are headed or just because who they are. This will be a fun, emotional, roller-coaster ride in the lives of people you would hopefully love and care for. As my friend and music director Anupam Roy tells me, ‘Tor prem-ta khub bhalo ashe’. I always hope he says that only about my films and how love really comes out the brightest in them,” says Pratim.

And yes, Ritwick Chakraborty and Parno Mittra — he had played Javed, the taxi driver, and she Rumi, a girl from a very rich family, in Pratim’s Shaheb Bibi Golaam — are back but in a completely new fun avatar. “The love story between Javed and Rumi was one of the big highs of that film,” adds Pratim. In SBG, Javed and Rumi’s story is of love between two very disparate people.

“People really liked Javed and Rumi a lot and it’ll be nice to pair up with Ritwick again. The film is a celebration of love,” says Parno.

For Pratim, the film is also an excuse to work with some of the best and most promising actors Bengal has.

“Everyone knows I can’t think beyond Ritwick Chakraborty and they are right! This will be my third film with him after SBG and MJ. And this will also be my third film with Parno Mittra after X: Past is Present and SBG,” says Pratim.

One of the love stories — “a power-packed drama” — features Paoli Dam. It’s “another incredibly strong character” after her turn as Sreela in Maacher Jhol. This will also be Paoli’s third project with Pratim, the two having wrapped the hour-long Hindi film Mirchi Malini.

The rest of the cast for the new film, to be produced by Avishek Ghosh, is yet to be finalised.

“There were lots of offers after the success of Maacher Jhol. But I want to continue telling the stories I want to tell and collaborate with people who would help me achieve my vision. I had a great time working with Avishek Ghosh, who was an associate producer on Mirchi Malini, the one-hour Hindi film I just finished making for STAR Plus. And here we are coming together,” says Pratim.

Meanwhile, the search for a film title is on. “If anyone has any suggestion, we would love to consider!” Pratim signs off.