Actor Arif Zakaria Set To Play Patralekha’s Father In Heer Sara Aur Pondicherry

Actor Arif Zakaria is set to play Patralekhaa's father in the upcoming film Heer Sara Aur Pondicherry, which is slated to release in theatres on May 29. With an impressive body of work that includes Darmiyaan: In Between, 1947: Earth, Dance Like a Man, My Name Is Khan, Raazi, War, Shoorveer, Freedom at Midnight, and Special Ops, Arif opens up about his character, his experience working on the film, and more.

Directed by Kartik Chaudhry, the film also stars Patralekha, Maanvi Gagroo, Nishank Verma, and Sveta Salve alongside Arif.

Speaking about his character, he said,"The simplicity of this middle-class man living in Indore with a daughter as a single parent was refreshing. The fact that he has a chequered past, which gradually reveals itself through the film, gave the character a dimension that felt real and challenging."

On what drew him to the project, he shared, "The director, Kartik, was the reason I did this project. The way he narrated the story and his clear vision in handling these real-life situations guided me tremendously. It always helps when the captain of the ship steers the vehicle boldly and bravely."

Reflecting on his experience during the shoot, he said, "The people and city of Indore left a lasting impression on me. Working with Patralekha ma'am was hassle-free; she was well-prepared and diligent throughout the shoot. There was a good camaraderie on set."

On what he hopes audiences take away from the film, Arif added, "I hope audiences feel refreshed by the film. It's a simple, relatable story told in a funny and engaging way. The characters are relatable, and the situations are warm and humorous. All in all, I hope audiences enjoy the charm that is inherent in this story."

Heer Sara Aur Pondicherry is backed by Sony Music India and produced by Maghaa Creations (Dinesh Soni), Next Level Productions (Neeraj Ruhil and Subhav Sharma), the producers behind the cult classic Vadh, and Opticus Inc, the producers of Nil Battey Sannata. Raj Singh Chaudhary, writer of Gulaal and director of the Netflix film Thar, serves as the creative producer.