Apr 13, 2026 1:31pm IST
Ahaan Panday Turns Gangster for YRF-Ali Abbas Zafar’s Action Romance (EXCLUSIVE)
“Saiyaara” breakout star Ahaan Panday is set to embrace a more intense and violent avatar in his second feature film. Variety India has exclusively learned that the young Bollywood star will take on the role of a gangster in Ali Abbas Zafar's upcoming film.
Ahaan will play a gangster locked in a fierce battle for love in what's being defined as a high-octane action-romance film. The role marks a sharp departure from his character of a troubled musician dealing with past trauma in Mohit Suri's “Saiyaara.” Ahaan has undergone intense hand-to-hand combat and weapon training to get into the skin of his character's raw and aggressive persona.
We have also heard that Jimmy Shergill has joined the cast in a pivotal role, marking his comeback to YRF after over two decades. His most memorable collaboration with YRF remains “Mohabbatein,”(2000) in which he played one of the main leads alongside Shah Rukh Khan. Jimmy's addition further strengthens the ensemble, which already features Sharvari, Aaishvary Thackeray and Bobby Deol. While Sharvari plays the female lead and Aaishvary the main antagonist, the character details of Bobby and Jimmy are kept under wraps for now.
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Plot details are not out yet, but expect a stylish, large-scale action entertainer that Ali Abbas Zafar is popularly known for. Shooting of the film commenced on April 3 in Mumbai, with the production scheduled to continue there throughout this month before moving to London in May for the next schedule. The makers are eyeing wrapping it up by July, targeting a theatrical release in early 2027.
Ahaan made his spectacular debut with the musical romance “Saiyaara,” which emerged as the biggest box-office blockbuster, starring a newcomer. The actor has since become the most in-demand young star in the industry and commands a massive fan following among Gen-Z audiences. The actor is reportedly also in talks to headline Aditya Chopra and Aanand L Rai's next directorial.
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