"The entire ethos of the 1950s is being recreated. When Motwane did 'Udaan', he went on location to Jamshedpur to get a flavour of the 1970s in the Steel City. But this time the sights, sounds and flavours of the 50s have to be recreated on a studio set. The cars and the clothes alone would cost around Rs.25 crore, " said a source close to the project.
The producers, Phantom Films, are going all out to ensure that the period feel in the film doesn't look fake. Vintage cars are being sought out from private owners in the country and from international car dealers, so that the aura of the era remains intact.
Even Ranveer, who will feature alongside Sonakshi Sinha in the film, is working hard on his look.
"Ranveer likes to get the clothes, attitude and mannerisms of his character perfectly-pitched. When Ranveer heard the script of Motwane's film, he fell in love with the era, " said the source, according to whom the film is an original heist caper.
The plot of a heist caper is woven around a group of people trying to steal something.
The source added: "It is the most original heist film ever made in Bollywood. Normally when we think of a heist adventure in Hindi, we refer back to Hollywood models like 'Bonnie & Clyde', 'The Italian Job' and 'The Sting'.
"Ranveer is very sure about one thing - he won't do remakes of south Indian or Hollywood films. All three of Ranveer's film so far, 'Band Baaja Baaraat', 'Ladies Vs Ricky Bahl' and now Motwane's film, are absolutely original."
In fact, the source says Ranveer was so kicked by the script that he has begun to research on the era, the 1950s on his own, and added: "Motwane gets these calls from Ranveer all the time about the look, the clothes.Ranveer has started preparations for it full-on."
The planning for Ranveer's look will have the producers pump in a minimum of Rs.5 crores.
"The clothes won't be bought off the shelves. The fabric has to be what existed in the 1950s, and we're only talking about Ranveer's wardrobe. Sonakshi's clothes have not even been discussed as yet, " said the source.
When contacted, the film's co-producer Madhu Mantena said: "Right now it's too early for me to discuss the era and the budget. But yes, we've to recreate an era that's gone by. Ranveer is super-charged about it. The budget for his clothes would be close to the figure you are throwing at me."