Ahaan Panday has started shooting for his next film with director Ali Abbas Zafar. The announcement was made on Friday through social media, where the director shared two pictures from the sets. The first image showed a close look at Ahaan Panday from the film. Only his eyes were visible, giving an intense and serious expression. The second image showed a clapboard with details about the project. It read “Production No 79. Director: Ali Abbas Zafar.” The title of the film has not been announced yet.

In the caption of the post, the director wrote, “And it BEGINS” along with a camera and fire emoji. He also tagged Ahaan Panday and Yash Raj Films.

Earlier, Ahaan had spoken briefly about the project in an interview. He confirmed that the film is an action entertainer and will also star Sharvari. He said, “It is an Ali Abbaz Zafar film. I don’t know if I should say too much. All I can say is I will begin shooting very soon. It is an action film and it’s being led by three people who are under the age of 30. It’s something that has not been done for a very long time. Audience will have to wait for it.”

Ali Abbas Zafar also shared his thoughts about working with Ahaan. He said, “What I love about Ahaan is his sincerity. In today’s time, when everything can feel performative and an act, he brings a kind of old-school honesty to his performances, like the romantic heroes we have grown up watching and loving. The camera picks up on that. You can’t act vulnerable on screen, it doesn’t land and he isn’t afraid to be vulnerable which is incredible.”

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Ahaan Panday was last seen in Saiyaara, which released on July 18, 2025. The film received positive responses from both critics and audiences. It told the story of Krish Kapoor, a musician, and Vaani Batra, a poet, played by Aneet Padda. Their journey explored creativity, emotional healing, and love, while also dealing with challenges after Vaani is diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer’s.

The film was directed by Mohit Suri and produced by YRF CEO Akshaye Widhani. It marked the debut of both lead actors and brought them into the spotlight.

In today’s entertainment world, the gap between television and films is getting smaller, but it still exists. That is why casting choices can say a lot. Ravie Dubey being chosen to play Lakshman in Nitesh Tiwari’s Ramayana feels like one of those big moments. This is not just another project for him. It could change the direction of his career. Ravie Dubey has been a popular face on Indian TV for years. Shows like Saas Bina Sasural and Jamai Raja made him a household name. Audiences know him as a reliable and likable lead who can carry a show with ease. But even with all that success, television actors often find it hard to break into big films in a meaningful way.

Ramayana changes that in one go. This is not a small step into films. It is a huge jump into a large-scale project with massive expectations. What makes it even more important is the company he will be in. Sharing screen space with stars like Ranbir Kapoor, Yash, Sai Pallavi, Sunny Deol and more, instantly puts him in a different position in the industry. It is not just about being seen more. It is about being seen differently.

The role of Lakshman also matters a lot. He is not a side character. He is one of the most important figures in the story. Lakshman is loyal, emotional, and strong. He stands by Ram through everything and often reacts with intensity. Playing this role needs both control and passion. For someone like Ravie Dubey, who has handled emotional scenes for years on television, this could be a great opportunity to show more depth on a bigger platform.

There is also the advantage of working with Nitesh Tiwari. He is known for telling strong stories and getting natural performances from his actors. Even in big films, he keeps the focus on characters. For Ravie Dubey, this means he is not just part of a grand film, but also part of a setup where performance truly matters. He is not coming in for a small role. He has a character that carries weight.

From an industry point of view, this casting is interesting. Usually, actors move from television to films slowly, building their way up. Ravi Dubey seems to be skipping that long process and entering directly into a major film. This shows that casting is slowly changing. Makers are now more open to choosing actors based on their connection with audiences, not just their film background.

At the same time, the pressure is high. Mythological roles come with strong expectations. People already have a clear image of these characters in their minds. Lakshman is not just a role, he is an emotion for many viewers. Ravi Dubey will have to meet those expectations carefully.

If he gets it right, this could be a turning point. It would not just be a good performance. It would change how people see him as an actor.

There is also a larger shift happening here. Television actors have often been seen as limited to their medium, while films are seen as a space for reinvention. With Ramayana, Ravi Dubey is not starting from zero. He is building on what he already has and taking it to a bigger stage. He brings experience, audience trust, and comfort in front of the camera. What he gains is scale and a wider reach.

If the film works the way it is expected to, Ravi Dubey will not just be known as a TV star who moved to films. He will be seen as an actor who made the right move at the right time with the right role. And in an industry where image matters as much as talent, that shift can make all the difference.

“We have come across recent media reports suggesting that Ajay Devgn and Om Raut are reuniting for a film based on an unsung warrior. We would like to clarify that there are currently no such discussions or collaborations taking place with the director. The story is baseless and entirely untrue. Both Ajay Devgn and Om Raut are presently working on their respective commitments.

We request media platforms and social media handles to kindly verify information with us prior to publishing and to reach out for any official confirmation regarding Ajay Devgn and Devgn Films.”

This official clarification from the team of Ajay Devgn comes after a series of reports and social media chatter suggested that he was reuniting with director Om Raut for a new film centred on an unsung warrior. The story quickly picked up momentum, largely because of the duo’s past association on Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior, which had set a strong benchmark for large-scale historical storytelling and commercial success.

The timing of the rumour also played a role in its spread. The industry is currently leaning heavily towards stories rooted in history, mythology and nationalism, and any potential collaboration between familiar names in this space tends to attract immediate attention. Add to that the continued public and trade curiosity around Om Raut after Adipurush, and the speculation found easy traction without formal confirmation.

From a trade standpoint, the clarification is a clear attempt to put an end to unverified narratives before they shape market expectations. Ajay Devgn’s slate remains busy across acting and production, and attaching his name to a non-existent project can create unnecessary noise around his actual lineup. For Om Raut as well, staying aligned only with confirmed commitments is important at this stage.

What this episode highlights yet again is how quickly speculative development stories can travel in today’s media environment. A combination of past success, current content trends and audience curiosity can turn assumption into perceived fact within hours. The statement serves as a reminder that while speed drives the news cycle, credibility still depends on verification.

Mahima Chaudhary once shared that she was not interested in being part of Baghban when it was first offered to her. The film, which starred Amitabh Bachchan and Hema Malini, focused on an elderly couple dealing with neglect from their children. It explored changing values in families, and Mahima’s character added an important emotional layer to the story.

Mahima Chaudhary was paired opposite Salman Khan in the film. Both had extended cameo roles. Speaking about the offer, she said, “When Ravi (Chopra) ji called me for Baghban, I had no intention of doing the movie because he said Salman and I had guest appearances.” At that time, she had already done several small roles and did not want to continue doing similar parts.

She explained that she was often approached for brief appearances, which made her hesitant. She said, “People started feeling that if they included me in one of their songs, the movie would become a hit. It was very nice to be considered a lucky mascot, but all I was getting were two-four scenes or a song. I was very reluctant.”

Out of respect for director Ravi Chopra and his father B R Chopra, she decided to meet him in person to decline the role. However, things changed during the meeting. She said, “When he suggested coming and meeting me, I immediately told him that I would come over. I went to say no to him, but I couldn’t. My secretary at that time even stepped in, saying he would do it. But I stopped him, saying, ‘I will do this one more movie. It’s okay,’”

In the film, her character Arpita was shown as kind and understanding. While much of the story focused on the problems between parents and children, her role brought a sense of empathy and balance. It showed that not everyone from the younger generation lacked sensitivity.

Looking back, Mahima Chaudhary expressed satisfaction with her decision. She said, “I am so happy today. Not just that I got to work with Amitabh Bachchan, but the movie continues to have very good shelf-life. Even now, people come up to me saying they love the film and its songs. Good came out of it.”

The film also featured actors like Aman Verma, Samir Soni, Saahil Chadha, Nasir Khan, Suman Ranganathan, Divya Dutta, Arzoo Govitrikar, and Rimi Sen in supporting roles.