Ajay Devgn to launch Saira's grandniece

Ajay Devgn has finally revealed who the leading lady will be in his ambitious home production, Shivaay, which also marks his return as director.

As has been the trend among ageing superstars, to make films with much younger debutantes, Devgn's film will serve as the launchpad for Dilip Kumar and Saira Banu's grandniece Sayesha.

Ajay reportedly finalised Sayesha for the role after a series of auditions that involved several aspirants

Ajay reportedly finalised Sayesha for the role after a series of auditions that involved several aspirants.

Shivaay is an action-drama co-produced by Ajay Devgn Ffilms and Eros International. The film is slated for release in January 2016, and Devgn has been characteristically secretive about the project so far.

Devgn made his directorial debut in 2008 with U, Me Aur Hum that costarred his wife Kajol and opened to a lukewarm response. Shivaay is the celebrated actor's second directorial.

While U, Me Aur Hum was a relationship drama based on Alzheimer's, Shivaay will be a more mainstream affair with the hero dominating most of the screen space.

Coming back to Sayesha, the budding star is actually a third-generation actor.

Sayesha's mother Shaheen is the daughter of Saira Banu's brother and had a brief Bollywood stint as a leading lady in the nineties, featuring in films such as the musical hit Aayee Milan Ki Raat and the late Mukul Anand's multistarrer Maha-Sangram. It was on the set of Maha-Sangram that Shaheen met Sumeet Saigal, then a budding actor, who was cast opposite her in the film.

The two got married soon after. Maha-Sangram was released in 1990, just a year before the now 45-year-old Ajay would make his debut with Phool Aur Kaante. Life in showbiz sure comes a full circle.