Priyadarshan is returning to the Hindi comedy lane he knows best — and he is bringing Akshay Kumar with him. The yet-untitled film, Priyadarshan’s 99th as a director, will cast Kumar as a quirky tiger hunter in a 1970s-set story, Hindustan Times reports.
Producer Ramesh Taurani is backing the project, which is expected to go on floors in the last week of November.
The shoot and the cast
A source close to the development told Hindustan Times that the schedule will run for about three months. Shooting is planned in Rajasthan’s wildlife locations and on a set in Mumbai, while the team is also scouting Bhopal.
The ensemble is already coming together:
- Annu Kapoor has been roped in.
- Rajpal Yadav has been roped in.
- The female lead is still being cast.
Priyadarshan has written the film with Rohan Shankar, his collaborator on Bhooth Bangla. He kept details under wraps when contacted: “Let the project get locked then I will talk.”
Why a 99th film matters
The reunion lands just as Priyadarshan has made his intentions clear. After Haiwaan drew a lukewarm response, he told Hindustan Times that Hindi audiences can expect comedies from him while he saves more experimental films for the South.
“If that’s the demand, why should I experiment with other kinds of films? I will play for the gallery and try meaningful movies in the South.”
For Hindi cinema fans, that stance makes this project a signal as much as a film: the director is choosing the format his audience has rewarded most, with an actor who has been part of some of his most loved comic outings. The 99th milestone also frames the announcement as a conscious return, not just another outing.
The period setting gives the film a distinct texture. A 1970s tiger hunter in Rajasthan’s wildlife stretches the comedy beyond an urban setup and lets the location do some of the storytelling.
What comes next
The title, the leading lady and the final location plan are still open. For fans, the next checkpoints are the formal announcement and the start of the shoot in late November. For the industry, the bigger number is just ahead: Priyadarshan will enter his 100th film after this one.
Source: Hindustan Times