Raghav Juyal and Alizeh Agnihotri Unite for Vikas Bahl’s La Famille Bélier Remake

The acclaimed director behind the supernatural thriller Shaitaan has secured his next major project, signing rising talents for the official Hindi adaptation of the 2014 French-Belgian film La Famille Bélier. The slice-of-life comedy drama will mark a significant collaboration between two young stars poised to make their mark in mainstream Bollywood, with Reliance Entertainment backing the venture after acquiring adaptation rights nearly seven to eight years ago.

Fresh Pairing Brings New Energy to Emotional Premise

Raghav Juyal, currently receiving widespread acclaim for his performance in Aryan Khan’s Netflix series The Bastards of Bollywood, has been signed to play a lead role in the adaptation. His casting comes at a pivotal moment in his career trajectory, following his chilling portrayal of the antagonist Fani in the action-thriller Kill, which earned him his first IIFA nomination for Performance in a Negative Role.

Joining him is Alizeh Agnihotri, Salman Khan’s niece who made her Bollywood debut in 2023 with Farrey, itself a remake of the 2007 Thai film Bad Genius. She will portray the hearing daughter in a family where all other members are deaf, juggling the responsibility of supporting her family’s struggling business while nurturing her dream of becoming a singer.

Project Details at a Glance

While specific character details for Raghav Juyal’s role remain under wraps, industry insiders suggest his involvement indicates a departure from the purely comedic or villainous roles he’s recently inhabited. The adaptation promises a fresh retelling of the emotional premise that director Vikas Bahl has been developing meticulously for the past two years.

The Oscar Connection and Bollywood Legacy

La Famille Bélier achieved international recognition when it was remade in Hollywood as CODA (Child of Deaf Adults), which went on to win three Academy Awards in 2022, including the coveted Best Picture trophy. The American version’s success demonstrated the universal appeal of the story about family bonds, personal dreams, and the complexities of serving as a bridge between two worlds—the hearing and the deaf.

Interestingly, the theme of La Famille Bélier bears striking resemblance to Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s 1996 directorial debut Khamoshi: The Musical, which starred Salman Khan, Manisha Koirala, and Nana Patekar. That film also explored the dynamics of a hearing daughter in a deaf family, creating an intriguing connection to Bollywood’s cinematic history and adding another layer to Alizeh Agnihotri’s involvement, given her familial connection to one of Khamoshi’s stars.

Comparative Timeline: From French Original to Hindi Adaptation

This timeline reveals Reliance Entertainment’s long-standing commitment to the project, having secured adaptation rights years before CODA’s Oscar triumph validated the story’s global resonance. The extended development period suggests a thoughtful approach to creating a culturally relevant Indian version that honors the source material while establishing its own identity.

Raghav Juyal: Versatility Defining His Ascent

The casting of Raghav Juyal represents a strategic choice that capitalizes on his demonstrated range as a performer. His recent work has showcased remarkable versatility, seamlessly transitioning between wildly different character types that would challenge even seasoned actors.

In The Bastards of Bollywood, he delivers scene-stealing comic moments as Parvaiz, the loyal and funny best friend to the protagonist. Critics and viewers have cited him as a standout performer, with his impeccable comic timing and memorable scenes—including a viral fanboy moment with Emraan Hashmi—establishing him as a formidable comedic presence.

This represents a complete departure from his menacing turn in Kill, where he portrayed the ruthless villain with raw intensity that shocked audiences accustomed to his dancer and comedian persona. Industry heavyweights including Vicky Kaushal and Anurag Kashyap praised his chilling performance, which opened doors to more complex character opportunities.

His ability to oscillate between lovable comedian and fearsome antagonist demonstrates the rare versatility that makes him an exciting casting choice for Vikas Bahl’s comedy drama. The role likely demands both emotional depth and moments of levity, playing to strengths he’s proven across multiple projects.

Alizeh Agnihotri: Building on Her Debut Foundation

For Alizeh Agnihotri, this project represents her second major Bollywood venture following her 2023 debut in Farrey. The experience of starring in another adaptation—her debut film remade a Thai thriller—provides relevant preparation for tackling the challenges of the French-Belgian source material.

Playing the hearing daughter who serves as her deaf family’s connection to the wider world requires significant acting range. The character must convey the weight of familial responsibility while maintaining her own dreams and aspirations, creating internal conflict that drives the narrative’s emotional core.

Her casting opposite an actor of Raghav Juyal’s growing stature signals industry confidence in her abilities and potential. The pairing of two relatively young performers allows for authentic chemistry while providing both actors opportunities to showcase their talents in a story that balances humor with genuine emotional stakes.

Vikas Bahl’s Directorial Vision and Career Trajectory

Director Vikas Bahl brings considerable credentials to this adaptation, with a filmography that demonstrates his ability to handle diverse genres and extract powerful performances from his casts. His breakthrough came with Queen (2014), the critically and commercially successful film that won numerous awards and established him as a director capable of creating culturally resonant cinema.

His subsequent works include Super 30, starring Hrithik Roshan in a biographical drama about mathematician Anand Kumar, and more recently, the supernatural thriller Shaitaan, which performed well at the box office. This range—from intimate character studies to larger-than-life biopics to genre thrillers—suggests he possesses the versatility necessary to tackle a nuanced family drama with comedic elements.

The two years Bahl has invested in script development indicates his commitment to crafting an adaptation that transcends mere translation. By taking time to develop the screenplay, he aims to create a version that feels authentically Indian while preserving the universal themes that made both the French original and Hollywood remake successful.

What This Means for Other Anticipated Projects

The prioritization of this La Famille Bélier adaptation has implications for fans eagerly awaiting other projects in Vikas Bahl’s pipeline. Reports indicate that Queen 2, featuring Kangana Ranaut, will need to wait considerably longer, with these highly anticipated sequels unlikely to commence filming before late 2026 or early 2027.

Similarly, Shaitaan 2, the sequel to his recent supernatural thriller, has been pushed back as the director focuses entirely on this comedy drama. However, another project in his slate—tentatively titled Dil Ka Darwaaza Khol Na Darling, starring Siddhant Chaturvedi and Wamiqa Gabbi—remains on track for an early 2026 release, suggesting Bahl is managing multiple projects at different stages of development.

This scheduling reveals the director’s confidence in the La Famille Bélier adaptation as his immediate priority, believing strongly enough in the material to delay other potentially lucrative sequels.

Production Timeline and Industry Expectations

With shooting scheduled to begin towards the end of 2025 and targeted completion in the first quarter of 2026, the production timeline suggests a relatively tight filming schedule. This efficiency likely stems from the extensive pre-production work already completed during the two-year script development phase.

Reliance Entertainment’s involvement as producer provides significant financial backing and distribution muscle, crucial for a film that tackles themes of disability representation and family dynamics that require sensitive handling and strong production values. Their long-term commitment to the project—having held rights for nearly eight years—demonstrates belief in its commercial and critical potential.

The Indian film industry has shown increasing appetite for well-crafted family dramas that balance entertainment with emotional depth. Recent successes in this space suggest strong market potential for a story about familial bonds, personal dreams, and overcoming societal perceptions.

Broader Implications for Deaf Representation in Indian Cinema

This adaptation arrives at a moment when Indian cinema is increasingly conscious about authentic representation of differently-abled communities. The film’s premise—centering a deaf family’s experiences while telling a universal story about dreams and family obligations—provides opportunity for meaningful representation if handled with care and authenticity.

The Hollywood version CODA was widely praised for its authentic portrayal of deaf culture, featuring deaf actors in deaf roles and consulting extensively with the deaf community. Industry observers will watch closely to see how the Hindi adaptation approaches these representation questions, which could set important precedents for Indian cinema.

The success of CODA demonstrated that stories featuring deaf characters and deaf culture can achieve mainstream commercial success and critical recognition when executed thoughtfully. This provides both inspiration and pressure for the Indian adaptation to meet similar standards of authenticity and sensitivity.

A Project With Promise and Purpose

The signing of Raghav Juyal and Alizeh Agnihotri for Vikas Bahl’s La Famille Bélier adaptation represents more than just another Bollywood project announcement. It signals confidence in young talent, commitment to meaningful storytelling, and recognition that Indian audiences are ready for family dramas that tackle complex themes with humor and heart.

Raghav Juyal’s demonstrated versatility combined with Alizeh Agnihotri’s emerging talent creates an intriguing on-screen pairing that could surprise audiences and critics alike. Under Vikas Bahl’s experienced direction, backed by Reliance Entertainment’s resources, and built on a strong foundation of source material that has already proven its universal appeal, this adaptation has all the ingredients for success.

As production approaches at year’s end, the film industry and audiences await this fresh take on a story about family, dreams, and the universal language of love that transcends all barriers—even those of sound and silence.

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