Tanya Maniktala is set to share screen space with Rajkummar Rao in Aditya Nimbalkar's upcoming film, a drama that delves into the realities of India's education system. This marks a significant collaboration for the actress, who gained recognition for her role in Mira Nair's "A Suitable Boy" (2020).

The film, penned and directed by Nimbalkar, promises to take a hard-hitting look at the academic pressures, emotional struggles, and systemic challenges prevalent in the Indian education system, impacting both students and educators. Nimbalkar, who made his directorial debut with "Sector 36" (2024), which was inspired by the 2006 Nithari killings, aims to explore the paradoxes and profit-driven approaches within the system through his second feature.

Sources reveal that Maniktala will portray a character who questions the rigidity of the academic environment, its focus on monetary gains over nurturing young minds, and the conventional definitions of success and failure. According to an insider, this character serves as the "trigger to the story," and Maniktala was Nimbalkar's first choice for the role due to her ability to portray both vulnerability and strength, qualities deemed central to the narrative.

While Rajkummar Rao and Keerthy Suresh, who also plays a lead role in the film, had commenced shooting their portions in June, Maniktala is scheduled to join the unit in November for a 30-day shoot. Maniktala has been actively preparing for her role by reading and researching extensively.

Rajkummar Rao was already set to begin work on his second production, a yet-untitled film that revolves around the Indian education system in May.

In addition to this project, Tanya Maniktala will also be seen in the gritty gangster series "Paan Parda Zarda". This series is set against the backdrop of the gangster world’s underbelly.