Manoj Bajpayee, Saqib Saleem, and Akshay Oberoi join hands for Pink writer Ritesh Shah’s directorial debut

Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; May 27, 2025)

For many writers, direction is a natural progression. It was only a matter of time before Ritesh Shah, who has penned acclaimed films like Sardar Udham (2021), Pink (2016), and Airlift (2016), took his place behind the camera. Now that he has taken the leap, the first-time director has put together an eclectic cast for his thriller — Manoj Bajpayee, Saqib Saleem, and Akshay Oberoi. Filmmaker Neeraj Pandey is serving as the creative producer on the project.

Sources tell us that the film went on floors in Mumbai on April 18. After a long schedule in the city, Shah led his crew to Bhopal. “The three lead actors were recently spotted shooting in Bhopal. Through May and June, they are set to film across various parts of India. The movie is an intense thriller with twists, characteristic of Neeraj’s storytelling style. Neeraj is providing creative leadership and production support.”

While plot details and the title remain under wraps, the source adds that the movie will stream on Netflix sometime next year.