First time was the charm for Saiyami Kher and filmmaker Neeraj Pandey as they teamed up for the acclaimed web series, Special Ops (2020). Three years on, the duo are reuniting for another project. It’s not surprising that the director, the mind behind thrillers like A Wednesday (2008) and Baby (2015), has cracked an espionage film. While Kher has been roped in as the leading lady, we hear Pandey is in talks with an action star for the male lead.

What drew Kher to the movie, besides its gripping script, is the opportunity to explore action again. A source reveals, “Saiyami takes centrestage in this spy thriller. While she has dabbled in action with Special Ops and Wild Dog [2021], she has never explored a full-fledged action role. The actor will have to undergo special training before she faces the camera.”

The pre-production is underway, with Pandey planning to take the project on floors by the year-end. Sources say the first schedule will be in Prague, followed by stints in Mumbai and north India.