Sidharth Malhotra returned from London in March to a countrywide-lockdown brought on by the Coronavirus-triggered pandemic that has brought life to a standstill for more than six months now. During this time, the actor reminisced about happy times in the lap of nature, on beaches and even in the sky, with his constant companion, pet dog Oscar, who was happy to get so much face time with his master.

While at home Sid kept a low profile, with no media interactions and minimal social media updates. However, towards September-end, the actor finally stepped out for a “super trek” to the mountains while quoting Francis Bacon, “Nature, to be commanded, must be obeyed” and wondering, “Where did three-fourth of the year sneak up and go?”

On October 19, Sid completed eight years in the industry, along with his fellow ‘students’ Varun Dhawan and Alia Bhatt, and a day later, he resumed shooting for Shershaah, the biopic of Param Vir Chakra awardee Captain, Vikram Batra, exalting, “Soldier back at work.” According to a source close to the development, it was a two-day patchwork shoot to wrap up the film.

The actor — who is playing a double role in the film since Vikram has a twin, Vishal, who has survived the Kargil martyr — was not joined by his leading lady, Kiara Advani. However, some of the supporting cast was there with him on the set in a Mumbai studio.

In an earlier conversation with Mirror (November 8, 2019), the actor had admitted that the war film is very special and he has worked on it for two-and-a-half-years. With the patchwork done, it is complete, and the team is now focussed on the post-production. Shershaah was originally scheduled to release on July 3 this year, but has now been pushed forward, like several other projects, due to the ongoing pandemic. The makers will now figure on a new release plan—whether it will open in the theatres or premiere on an OTT platform only after the post-production is complete.

Now that Sid is back at work, the actor has multiple films lined up, including the Thadam remake opposite Mrunal Thakur, which will again see him in a double role, that of a businessman and a small-time thief-cum-gambler who is always out to make a quick buck. The Hindi remake was supposed to be shot in Delhi in May this year. The makers are currently working on a new plan of action, and according to a source, the film is expected go on the floors in November or early December.

He has also signed up for Indra Kumar’s next, Thank God, with Ajay Devgn and his Aiyaary and Marjaavaan co-star Rakul Preet Singh. It was to go on the floors on April 10, but there has been no development since.

Sidharth also has the remake of the Telugu comedy DJ (Duvvada Jagannadham), with him reprising the titular role portrayed by Allu Arjun in the original. Finally, there’s an espionage action-thriller with Ronnie Screwvala, a cross-border Indo-Pak drama with Sid as a RAW agent. According to a source, this will be the next film that Sidharth will kick off after wrapping up the Thadam remake, and it is expected to begin early next year.