Abhishek Sharma has been reveling in the success of his latest directorial venture, Parmanu: The story of Pokhran. The film which starred John Abraham and Diana Penty in the lead was an intense action drama. The director is now set to dive into another project but this one is quite different from his recent film. Yes, we’re talking about The Zoya Factor. The movie is an official adaptation of Anuja Chauhan‘s book by the same name. The film stars Dulquer Salmaan and Sonam Kapoor Ahuja in the lead roles.

Dulquer plays the role of Nikhil Khoda who is a cricketer while Sonam plays Zoya Solanki, an advertising agent. Talking about Dulquer’s character, Abhishek told, Mid-day:

It’s a fresh character. Once we start workshops next month, it’s up to Dulquer how he approaches the part. Dhoni is an easy reference, but the Indian skipper has changed since 2008. So there’s no reference; Dulquer will bring his own interpretation to the table.In the book, both central characters are shown to have opposing outlooks and share a love-hate relationship. When asked about their chemistry, the director said:

Sonam Kapoor and Dulquer will make a fantastic pair. They are so unique and affable. Plus, the screenplay lends itself to a crackling equation between the protagonists, Nikhil and Zoya. The final touches will be attained in the rehearsals.Abhishek has made satirical and massy comedy films before his action drama, Parmanu. The upcoming film again is a genre he has never taken on before. Talking about his choice of stories, Abhishek said:

I don’t want to be known for a single genre, and this film takes me to a space I have not tried before. It’s an amazing book. We locked the final script after nine drafts.The director also told Mid-day that the film is all set to go on floors by the end of August.