Priyadarshan Confirms New Film with Akshay Kumar
Months after stepping away from Hera Pheri 3, filmmaker Priyadarshan is set to reunite with Akshay Kumar for a new comedy thriller, marking their ninth film together. The director confirmed the development directly, telling Mid-Day, "My next film is with Akshay Kumar and Tips." The project is backed by Tips Industries and is expected to go on floors by December.
Departure from Hera Pheri 3
Priyadarshan's exit from Hera Pheri 3 was first confirmed by producer Firoz Nadiadwala, a development the director himself later verified. Instead of continuing with the franchise, he has chosen to work on an original comedy thriller with Akshay Kumar. The story is penned by Priyadarshan himself, who describes it as a blend of humour and suspense. He is developing the screenplay with Rohan Shankar, who previously worked with him on Bhoot Bangla.
First Attempt at Genre Blend
Both Priyadarshan and Akshay Kumar are reportedly drawn to the project as it marks their first attempt at combining comedy and thriller genres, despite having explored both separately in the past. The film will extend one of Bollywood's most enduring director-actor pairings, which has previously delivered hits including Hera Pheri, Garam Masala, Bhagam Bhag, Bhool Bhulaiyaa, De Dana Dan, Khatta Meetha, and Bhoot Bangla.
Other Projects Deferred
Priyadarshan had earlier scheduled a dramedy with Pankaj Tripathi and a separate film with Mohanlal for the latter half of the year, but both have now been deferred to 2027, clearing the runway for the Akshay Kumar venture. The duo's collaboration streak continues with Haiwaan, co-starring Saif Ali Khan, which is scheduled to release in September.
