Despite the sidelining of Baiju Bawra by Sanjay Leela Bhansali due to budgetary constraints, Ranveer Singh has no reason to slow down, with an agenda brimming with high-profile cinematic ventures. Presently engaged in the shoot of the Ajay Devgn-starrer Singham Again, Singh is primed to conclude his work on director Rohit Shetty’s dynamic action spectacle by the tail end of April. Post wrapping up this venture, he will dive straight into the preparation for Farhan Akhtar’s much-anticipated Don 3. According to insider information, Ranveer will undergo a series of intense workshops aimed at mastering the nuances of a role that boasts a lofty legacy. First immortalized by Amitabh Bachchan in the 1970s and subsequently by Shah Rukh Khan in the 2000s, the character is a tall order that Singh seems eager to meet. Akhtar, the maestro behind the camera, aspires to commence filming in August or September of this year, with a target to bring the thrilling narrative to a close by March 2024.
Following his stint as the suave underworld kingpin, Ranveer Singh is set to infuse life into the beloved Indian superhero, Shaktimaan. A project that has been carefully nurtured over three years to perfect the screenplay is gearing up to enrapture audiences. At the directorial reins is Basil Joseph, whose craft was recently spotlighted in the Malayalam cinematic jewel, Minnal Murali (2021). Joseph’s next mission is to direct the superhero trilogy revolving around Shaktimaan, set to propel into production mid-2025. Additionally, Singh is roping in discussions with filmmakers from the southern sphere of Indian cinema, fostering the prospects of a pan-India spectacle.
Switching gears to the realm of television, actor Karan Wahi reminisces as he prepares for an on-screen reunion with Jennifer Winget after a hiatus of 14 years since their show Dill Mill Gayye. The duo is reconvening for a legal drama series titled Raisinghani vs Raisinghani, promising an evolved chemistry infused with a competitive edge. Wahi hints at intricate layers of rivalry, redemption, and an unwavering passion that are set to captivate viewers—a reinvention rather than a mere reunion of on-camera rapport.
In the world of talk shows, Neha Dhupia is amassing an impressive roster of guests for her show, No Filter Neha. Having already entertained the likes of Kartik Aaryan, Tiger Shroff, and Ananya Panday, the show is buzzing with the anticipation of Rashmika Mandanna’s upcoming episode. Mandanna, renowned for her performance in Animal, is expected to share profound insights into her experiences straddling both Hindi and south Indian cinema.
Another significant announcement that swept through the industry was Sandeep Singh’s forthcoming biopic on the venerable Maratha icon, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. This historical action drama titled The Pride of Bharat: Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, saw its launch from the hands of Union Minister Nitin Gadkari. As the filmmaker prepares to don the director’s hat for this magnum opus, he expressed a fervent desire to shine a spotlight on Shivaji Maharaj’s storied legacy beyond the Maratha heartland.
Bhumi Pednekar is currently soaking in the adulation for her film Bhakshak, while also cherishing a sweet token—a gold coin—from her foremost supporter and critic, her mother Sumitra Hooda Pednekar. This affectionate gesture has become a symbolic tradition marking her mother’s approval of her acting prowess, with such coins marking her wins in the past for notable films. The actor shared an intimate moment revealing her mother’s profound emotional response to Bhakshak, which tugged at the very heartstrings that bind their relationship.
The psychological genre is poised to receive a fresh entry with Crossfire, starring Khushalii Kumar and Shantanu Maheshwari. Directed by Harish Raut, this cinematic offering promises to weave suspense with an emotional narrative to grip audiences. Kumar and Maheshwari are eager to embark on workshops in readiness for a story that boldly probes moral dichotomies.
Director Anees Bazmee, even in the face of a recently sustained injury, displays undeterred enthusiasm as he readies to embark on the next installment of the Bhool Bhulaiyaa series, slated to commence notably soon with heavyweights Kartik Aaryan and Vidya Balan.
To stoke the embers of anticipation further, whispers rippling through the industry allude to Aashiqui 3 drawing inspiration from the 1981 classic Baseraa for its core narrative. While filmmaker Anurag Basu and the project’s team remain tight-lipped, the conjecture has set afloat a boatload of curiosity regarding the casting and adaptation of the timeless tale.
Although Singh’s schedule may be demanding, the versatility of roles and genres in the pipeline speak to his capacity to navigate the industry’s dynamic landscape. From hard-hitting action dramas to nuanced portrayals of celebrated figures, Ranveer Singh’s cinematic journey ahead appears both thrilling and variegated.
