India’s Yash Raj Films, which is making its Cannes debut this year, has started production on the third film under its Y-Films banner, comedy Mere Dad Ki Maruti, starring Saqib Saleem.

Saleem made his debut in last year’s sleeper hit, Mujhse Fraaandship Karoge, also produced by youth-oriented banner Y-Films. Mere Dad Ki Maruti also marks the directorial debut of Ashima Chibber who has worked as first assistant director on films such as Chak De India and Rockstar.

Yash Raj is taking an apartment on the Croisette for the first time this year, to introduce the 40-year-old company to the international industry and also test the waters for its upcoming slate of high-profile Hindi films.

These include Habib Faisal’s love story Ishaqzaade and three blockbusters starring Bollywood’s most bankable trio – Ek Tha Tiger with Salman Khan; a project directed by Yash Raj Films founder Yash Chopra, starring Shah Rukh Khan, and Dhoom 3 starring Aamir Khan. (For more details see India special on May 21).

Ishaqzaade opened in India on May 11 and grossed an impressive $4m in four days.

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