Suniel Shetty takes on Rajinikanth as the antagonist in AR Murugadoss’ cop-drama
Himesh Mankad (MUMBAI MIRROR; May 23, 2019)

Rajinikanth flagged off AR Murugadoss’s cop-drama, Darbar, in mid-April on the streets of Mumbai with leading lady Nayanthara. During the 20-day schedule which wrapped up on May 14, he also filmed an intense action scene with Prateik Babbar, who plays the son of the antagonist, Suniel Shetty. Yes, Mirror has learnt that after Akshay Kumar in 2.0, Suniel Shetty plays the baddie in Darbar, his first negative role in 15 years after the Shah Rukh Khan starrer, Main Hoon Na.

“Anna, a corporate giant, will take on Thalaiva’s IPS officer. He joins the team during the second schedule which starts in the next few days in Mumbai and will be there all through,” informed a source close to the development.

The thriller wraps up by August. Suniel has been working on his menacing ‘look’ and bulking up in the gym. “The antagonist’s track has an emotional back-story also featuring Rajinikanth, which makes the revenge all the more exciting. There will be several confrontation scenes between the duo in the film which climaxes with a stylized, larger-than-life action scene,” said the source.

Rajini has previously played a cop in films like Moondru Mugam, Geraftaar, Hum and Pandiyan. Speculations are rife that he will sport multiple avatars in the film, including that of a social activist, details of which are being kept strictly under wraps.

In the second innings, Suniel has taken up several meaty roles down South. He recently wrapped up Priyadarshan’s multi-lingual period drama, Marakkar: The Lion of Arabian Sea. Also featuring Mohanlal, it is set against the Zamorin war with Portuguese. He also makes his Kannada film debut with the soonto- release Sudeep starrer Pailwaan. “There is another big Telugu project which he has signed and discussions are on with couple of directors for his Hindi films as well,” added the source.

Suniel had recently acknowledged that talks are on with Priyadarshan to return as the director of the Hera Pheri franchise. Hera Pheri 3 is expected to take off by the year-end reuniting him with Akshay and Paresh Rawal.