Marking Priyadarshan’s 99th directorial venture, the untitled action-comedy is set against the backdrop of the 1970s and will feature Akshay Kumar in the eccentric role of a quirky tiger hunter (shikari). Backed by veteran producer Ramesh Taurani (Tips Films), the film is slated to begin principal photography in late November 2026 with an extensive three-month shooting schedule.
The Premise: 1970s Wilderness Meets Classic Priyadarshan Slapstick
Stepping away from modern urban settings, the film places Kumar in a period action-comedy canvas:
The Character: Akshay Kumar will portray a self-styled, flamboyant tiger hunter operating during the 1970s—an era right around the enactment of the Wildlife Protection Act and the dawn of Project Tiger. Known for playing eccentric schemers, Kumar's character reportedly finds himself caught in an elaborate wild-goose chase involving royal estates, forest outposts, and mistaken identities.
Original Narrative: Unlike many of Priyadarshan's recent adaptations, this project is being mounted as a fresh, standalone script that leans into high-stakes physical comedy, situational confusion, and period jungle escapades rather than franchise nostalgia.
Reassembling the Priyadarshan Comic Roster
A hallmark of Priyadarshan's signature cinematic world is his reliable stable of character actors, and this production brings back seasoned veterans:
Rajpal Yadav: A frequent scene-stealer across Chup Chup Ke, Hungama, Bhool Bhulaiyaa, and Garam Masala, Yadav joins the ensemble in a key role that triggers the narrative's central comedy of errors.
Annu Kapoor: Joining the comic fray is veteran actor Annu Kapoor, marking a dynamic pairing opposite Kumar following their acclaimed face-offs in Jolly LLB 2.
Director’s Stance: Speaking briefly about the developments, Priyadarshan kept his cards close:
“Let the project get locked and roll, then I will talk. We are putting everything in place.”
A Storied Actor-Director Partnership
The project adds another chapter to one of modern Hindi cinema's most commercially dependable director-actor associations, which produced cult hits like Hera Pheri (2000), Garam Masala (2005), Bhagam Bhag (2006), Bhool Bhulaiyaa (2007), and De Dana Dan (2009).
Coming on the heels of their recent crime thriller Haiwaan and horror-comedy Bhooth Bangla, this 99th outing allows Priyadarshan to return to pure, lighthearted situational humor on an expansive visual scale.
Trade Take:
Priyadarshan pivoting away from compromised franchise revivals like Hera Pheri 3 to build an original 1970s period comedy is a strategic win for both him and Akshay Kumar. Placing Kumar in a colorful, vintage safari hat as an overconfident shikari alongside Rajpal Yadav and Annu Kapoor taps straight into the golden era of slapstick comedy, offering audiences the clean, eccentric humor they have long associated with the duo.
