Randeep Hooda, who was recently seen in a special role in Imtiaz Ali's Love Aaj Kal, has moved on to his next project. Unfazed by the dismal performance of the Kartik Aryan and Sara Ali Khan starrer, the actor has started shooting for Sony Pictures' mystery thriller, Unfair & Lovely.

Randeep who plays a cop in the film, started shooting for it on Thursday in Kernal, Haryana. As per sources, Ileana D'Cruz has been roped in to play the leading lady in this comic-thriller that is said to be dealing with a taboo subject.

Ileana will apparently be playing a very interesting the character that she hasn't explored before and will join Randeep on the sets in a few days.

 The actress came on board after Mukkabaaz fame Zoya Hussain, who was earlier locked to play the lead heroine, opted out of it citing date issues.

This film was supposed to go on floors in October when Zoya  signed. However, it kept getting delayed, and when the makers recently told her that they are starting shooting in February, she had no option but to leave the film as her dates were clashing with another film.

The makers then approached Ileana and her immediately agreed to do the film. The source adds that the film also stars Geetika Vidya of Netflix Original Soni fame in a pivotal role.

Set in a small town with lots of twists and turns, Unfair & Lovely marks the directorial debut of Balwinder Singh Janjua, who has previously written the screenplay for films like Mubarakan, Firangi, and Saand Ki Aankh.

 The film was earlier being produced by Sanjay Leela Bhansali, but he had opted out of it after creative differences occurred between him and Sony Pictures. The film is now being produced by Sony Pictures in association with Janjua's banner, Movie Tunnel Productions.