Ayesha Kapur who played younger Rani Mukerji in Black to make her Bollywood debut as lead in Hari-Om

The 28-year-old actress, who went to study at Columbia in New York, has been working on her Hindi diction for nearly 6 months with Kulvinder Bakshish (The language coach who also trained Aamir Khan in Punjabi for Laal Singh Chaddha).

She has also been doing workshops together with the film’s actor Anshuman Jha.

Talking about the film being her vehicle as a leading lady, Ayesha said in a statement: “I am excited about getting back into acting and shooting for Hari Om. It’s a sweet, family film which will touch a chord with everyone in some way. I like the simplicity with which Harish Sir writes his stories and fleshes out his characters. They are very real and relatable.”

Additionally, the film also stars veteran actors like Raghubir Yadav, Soni Razdan, Ayesha Kapur, and Manu Rishi Chaddha. Ayesha can’t contain her excitement to work along with such a powerful cast.

She added: “This film has me working alongside celebrated actors like Raghubir Yadav Sir & Soni Razdan ma’am. To be working with them and to be on the same frame as them will be an exciting learning experience for me. And it’s great to work with Anshuman because I really admire his acting and the script choices he makes. Looking forward to shooting in Madhya Pradesh.”

Hari-Om, which goes on floors this month, will have its first schedule in Bhopal and will wrap in December with the final schedule which has to be shot in the winters.