Bobby Deol joins Ali Abbas Zafar’s action-drama with Ahaan Panday and Sharvari

Bobby Deol, who is currently having a breakout year due to a wide variety of roles, will be joining the cast of Ali Abbas Zafar's upcoming feature. Ahaan Panday (from Saiyaara) and Sharvari will be leading the cast of an untitled action drama. Deol's recent work in critically acclaimed films like The Ba***ds of Bollywood and Bandar by Anurag Kashyap precedes his inclusion.

Exploring complex role

It seems like Deol is taking on roles with comples shading, as the project is his second high-profile endeavour. Rumour has it that the actor will be playing an antagonist to Panday's hero. But the character of the position is being defined clearly.

A trade source told Mid Day that it will be incorrect to call him the villain. The source elaborated on the complexities of the character, stating that while he holds an authoritative position in the film, there is more to it than initially appears. Throughout the film, Deol's character reveals nuances that influence his interactions with the hero.

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Moving beyond negative portrayals

The makers reportedly decided to avoid an explicitly negative portrayal. Deol has recently shifted his focus to villains in films like Animal (2023), Aashram (a web series), and Kanguva (2024). The next spy thriller, Alpha, will feature Alia Bhatt and Sharvari, and he is set to portray the antagonist.

According to reports, Aditya Chopra, the film's producer, and Zafar, the director, were eager to cast Deol in a character that broke with his current trend. The insider revealed to the tabloid that Zafar and Chopra were firm in their belief that the role couldn't be a scary all-black one, as Deol had already played parts like that. With the actor in mind, the director created a larger-than-life character with personal motivations and nuances of character.

Project timeline and anticipation

Deol became an official member of the team a little over one week ago.

The film is now in the pre-production stage of its production. A recce trip to England is soon in the works for Zafar. Production on the action drama is expected to commence in the first quarter of 2026, if the present schedule remains unchanged. Fans are hoping that Deol's second innings in cinema will continue to evolve with this partnership with Zafar, who is famous for large-scale action entertainers.

FAQs:

Q: Who is starring in Ali Abbas Zafar's next film?

A: The film will be led by Ahaan Panday (of Saiyaara fame) and Sharvari. Bobby Deol has been roped in to play an authoritative character who is an adversary to Panday's hero.

Q: Is Bobby Deol playing the villain in Ali Abbas Zafar's new movie?

A: No, sources state it would be incorrect to call him the villain or antagonist. While he will be an adversary to the hero and his character is in an authoritative position, it will feature complex 'grey shades' and personal motivations, avoiding a typical "all-black" menacing role.

Q: What is the genre of the yet-untitled film?

A: The project is described as an action drama. It will feature a larger-than-life persona crafted for Bobby Deol's character.