After completing the Goa schedule of Raj-DK (Raj Nidimoru-Krishna DK)’s yet-untitled web series in April, Shahid Kapoor returned to Mumbai. The next schedule of the thriller, which was to kick off earlier this month, will now be shot in the city once the restrictions are lifted. With the dates being reworked, it has had a domino effect on the actor’s slate of projects. He intends to kick off the OTT film, Operation Cactus, as soon as it’s a wrap on his maiden web series that also features South superstar Vijay Sethupathi.

“The lockdown has played havoc with the dates of actors. Meanwhile, producer Amar Butala’s team is on standby. The pre-production of Operation Cactus is on in full swing, and it will go on floors as soon as the leading man is available,” says a source.

The action thriller offers a retelling of the 1988 military operation of the same name that was launched by the Indian government in the Maldives to prevent a coup by 200 Sri Lankan militants against then-President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom. Kapoor will step into the shoes of Brigadier Farukh Bulsara in the movie, which will be helmed by Aditya Nimbalkar. He has previously assisted Vishal Bhardwaj in Kaminey (2009), Haider (2014) and Rangoon (2017).

mid-day reached out to Kapoor’s team, who didn’t respond till press time.