Bhumi Pednekar and Akshay Kumar Join Director Priyadarshan for New 1970s Comedy

Actor Bhumi Pednekar has signed on as the leading lady for director Priyadarshan's upcoming comedy film, marking her third collaboration with co-star Akshay Kumar. Priyadarshan confirmed her casting for the project, which is his 99th film as a director and is scheduled to start shooting in the last week of November 2026.

Cast and Plot Details

The story is set in the 1970s with Akshay Kumar playing a tiger hunter. While specific plot details remain under wraps, reports suggest the film mixes comedy with thriller elements and potential themes of wildlife conservation. Ramesh Taurani is producing the movie. Additional cast reports point to possible roles for Annu Kapoor and Rajpal Yadav, though their parts are not yet officially confirmed.

Past Work and Schedule

Bhumi and Akshay previously starred together in Toilet: Ek Prem Katha and the 2022 film Raksha Bandhan directed by Aanand L Rai. The upcoming production will run for about three months across locations including Mumbai, Rajasthan, and a possible stop in Bhopal.

Context

Priyadarshan is a well-known filmmaker with a long career in Indian cinema, particularly recognized for directing popular comedies. Period comedies often blend nostalgic cultural references from past decades with slapstick or situational humor to appeal to wide cinema audiences.