Put Mithun Chakraborty, Sunny Deol, Sanjay Dutt, and Jackie Shroff in one frame, and you can expect an action extravaganza. That’s exactly what Baap promises. Now, producer Ahmed Khan has also woven in an element of dance in it.

While the movie’s principal shoot was wrapped up in April 2025, mid-day has learnt that Khan and director Vivek Chauhan recently filmed a music video with the four leading men and Johny Lever.

Think of it as a stylised promotional track that will highlight the heroes’ action set-pieces from the movie.

A source from the creative team revealed, “A peppy dance number featuring the four actors, and another track celebrating their camaraderie were to be shot last year. However, only the latter was filmed in the jungles of Mizoram and in Film City, Mumbai. The dance track was finally shot in June. A set depicting a mill was created at Madh Island for the purpose.”

Considering Baap is high on stunts designed by action directors Parvez Shaikh and Ravi Varma, Zee Studios as well as Khan felt portions of it should be incorporated in the single. The source added, “It’s intercut with different action set-pieces. For instance, one sequence has Sunny and Sanjay fighting on top of a Boeing plane; it may make the cut.”

For Khan, it was wonderful to see the four stars shake a leg together. “It was great fun to have the true action heroes dancing and doing dialoguebaazi,” he told mid-day, while the director added, “Seeing these macho icons together in one frame is a cinematic feast!”

A successful film encourages a director and an actor to reunite professionally. Add a 33-year friendship to that, and the combination’s gold! Who knows that better than Ahmed Khan? The director revealed to mid-day that boosted by the success of Welcome To The Jungle, he is set to reunite with Akshay Kumar for his next. 

So, is another action comedy in the works? Maybe, maybe not. Khan shared, “With Welcome To The Jungle becoming a success, we had to work together again. I am so happy that the film has done well, and the cast is happy too. Akshay and I are planning something soon. We are in talks regarding two-three different genres — action comedy, romantic action drama, and an out-and-out action movie. Even Akshay has a script that he has told me about. We have to finalize one of our ideas. Once that and the dates are finalised, we’ll announce it.”

Rumours were rife that for his next, Khan would start a zombie comedy with Tiger Shroff and Shanaya Kapoor in the lead. Talks of Welcome 4 also did the rounds.

Denying those reports, the director said, “Rumours abound when movies are a hit, but it’s not true as of now. My next is with Akshay. It’s a joy working with someone as professional as him. I like action and can do it on a bigger scale with Akshay. Dance, action, drama — it all comes out organically with him.”

With Kumar and Khan attached to the project, it won’t be surprising if either Firoz A Nadiadwallah or Sajid Nadiadwala produce it. The director remained tight-lipped, only saying, “Dono se dosti hai. They love Akshay and me.”

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Ahmed Khan’s home production ‘Baap’, starring Mithun Chakraborty, Sunny Deol, Sanjay Dutt, and Jackie Shroff, is gearing up for a release this year. “Zee Studios is finalizing the release date and marketing of the movie. I have completed the movie and handed it to them. It’s their baby now,” said the filmmaker.

Missing the testosterone-driven Hindi films of the 1990s? Ahmed Khan’s got you covered. His production Baap — which brings together the biggest action heroes of the 1980s and ’90s, Sunny Deol, Sanjay Dutt, Mithun Chakraborty, and Jackie Shroff — is finally complete and readying for a 2026 release. mid-day has learnt that the action drama, which went on floors in June 2022, was recently wrapped up with the completion of two songs.

Directed by Vivek Chauhan, Baap’s talkie portions were completed in April this year. Next on the plan were two songs — a peppy number featuring the four actors, and another track celebrating the protagonists’ camaraderie. Both songs have been choreographed by Khan.

A source revealed, “Earlier, the brotherhood song was to be shot on a set depicting an under-construction building, as the four actors play labourers working at a construction site. But the makers did a rethink and it was filmed earlier this year in the jungles of Mizoram, followed by a portion on a set constructed in Film City. It has been treated like Chappa Chappa Charkha Chale in Maachis [1996]. The peppy track will be used as a background number when the four actors appear together, and will enhance the mood.”

Now, the makers are focusing on the post-production and VFX. The source added, “It’s a VFX-heavy movie. All actors have begun dubbing, and the film should be ready by the year-end, after which producers Zee Studios and Ahmed will decide the release date.”

The film is said to be designed as an action extravaganza, complete with helicopter chase sequences, explosions, and hand-to-hand combat choreographed by action directors Parvez Shaikh and Ravi Varma.

For Khan, who is currently supervising the post-production process, it has been a matter of pride and joy to back Baap.

When mid-day reached out to him, the elated producer said, “The shooting of Baap is complete and right now, it’s in the final stages of post-production. It’s any producer’s dream to get these superstars together for one frame, and we have them in a full movie!”

Remember the Hindi action dramas of the late ’80s and early ’90s? Baap revisits the genre as it brings together Bollywood’s biggest action heroes of that time—Mithun Chakraborty, Sanjay Dutt, Sunny Deol and Jackie Shroff—and gives us a desi Expendables of sorts. Director Vivek Chauhan, who took the film on floors in June 2022, has wrapped up the shoot, save for a song. We hear the makers have conceptualised a dance number that will see the four leading men shake a leg together, and will be shot in November.

Sources say that it will be a fun track highlighting the deep friendship between the protagonists. At the moment, the director and production design team are zeroing in on the best possible setting for the song.

A source from the creative team reveals, “Mithun, Sanjay, Sunny and Jackie play labourers in a construction company. Keeping that in mind, the makers are envisioning the song against the backdrop of an under-construction building or an old mill, with many background dancers. The idea of shooting it on a ship is also being considered. Once the backdrop is locked, an elaborate set will be built at Film City. It will be a testosterone-driven song on dosti, with the four senior actors celebrating their brotherhood.”

After the song is canned and the patchwork shoot done, the team will begin post-production.

Producers Ahmed Khan and Zee Studios have shortlisted three music directors, of which they will choose one to compose the song. They are seeking a foot-tapping number that has a rustic, macho vibe to it. And who will get the actors, each known for their unique approach to dancing, to strap on their dancing shoes?

Choreographer-producer Khan, sources say. “He has also choreographed another song, which is a slower, emotional track that sees the four stars encouraging each other during hard times.” 

When mid-day reached out to Khan, he confirmed the impending song shoot, adding, “Sanju, Jackie, Sunny and Mithun sir shaped the action genre in the ’80s and ’90s. Baap is along the lines of a desi Expendables with emotions, and the friendship song will give you Tridev [1989] and Vishwatma [1992] vibes.”

The leading men with action director Ravi Varma (centre, in blue) during the climax shoot at Film City

What do you get when you bring together Mithun Chakraborty, Sanjay Dutt, Sunny Deol and Jackie Shroff? A dose of nostalgia. And, as director Vivek Chauhan hopes, Bollywood’s answer to The Expendables franchise.

In June, the director took the action drama — the working title of which is Baap — on floors. Five months on, the movie is nearing the finish line. The unit is shooting a massive climax sequence at Film City, after which only a song remains to be shot. Keeping in mind the prowess of the four stars, Baap has been designed as an action extravaganza, complete with dialoguebaazi that was signature of the late ’80s and early ’90s.

A source reveals that the climax has been mounted on a lavish scale. “A huge set of the villain’s den has been built across two grounds. The sequence also includes a helicopter chase, explosions, and will see the actors engage in hand-to-hand combat. The unit has been shooting in Goregaon over the past 12 days. Producer Ahmed Khan has roped in two action directors, Parvez Shaikh and Ravi Varma, to mount the set-pieces. Though Mithun sir is 72, he — like his co-stars — has forgone body doubles, pulling off the stunts himself,” says the source.

Chauhan hopes to call it a wrap on the talkie portions today, readying the movie for a 2023 release. The source adds, “The film is being planned as a nostalgic event for the audience. It will be along the lines of The Expendables, and Tridev [1989].”

For producer Ahmed Khan, Baap is a tribute to the four artistes who shaped up the action genre in Bollywood. “We owe it to these stars who laid down the foundation of action movies for us. Where were safety measures, cables, crash mats or VFX support in those days? They would jump from the fourth floor with just boxes below [for cushioning]. [With Baap], we wanted to see the ’80s and ’90s heroes perform the kind of action that is enjoyed by today’s youth. It was a dream to get these four superstars together in an action-packed entertainer.”

It’s been a long run at the cinemas for Sunny Deol, who made his debut with Betaab in 1984. Among the many projects, he is currently working on are the sequel to Gadar and Apne 2, which will see him sharing screen space with son Karan along with father, Dharmendra and brother Bobby. The actor is now in a new phase of his career, where the story and screenplay matter more than a larger-than-life presentation of him on screen. In a conversation with BT, the actor talks about breaking stereotypes attached to his name, the 2. 0 version of his career and why Apne 2 is the most special film of his life. Excerpts:

I’m actually doing quite a lot of films right now. In fact, I have projects releasing in theatres, and there’s something interesting for the digital format, too. Some of my movies are already on floors, a few will roll out in a few months, and my content for the digital platforms is being worked on. I think that you have to give the audience different kinds of content instead of dishing out the same thing repeatedly, hoping this is what they want to see.

(Cuts in…) R Balki’s films have unique worlds where I know I can work differently and do something distinct with my characters. The characters he creates, like the one in Chup, are not typical, larger-than-life breed of roles that I am offered all the time. They have a certain kind of layering. Balki has narrated a couple of projects to me after Chup, which I have loved, and I want to work with him on some of those because I have loved his style of ideation.

I love the idea of a film like Baap. It’s one of those films that not only features my colleagues from the ’80s, but it also has a unique story revolving around friendships and emotions; it brings back something from the bygone era and mixes it with new-age ideas. As for Apne 2 and Gadar 2, I was clear that unless we have something that could match the emotional quotient of the originals, we won’t go ahead with them. Apne 2 literally features almost all the Deol men. My whole family is in it. I didn’t want the writing to falter. I can now say that it has shaped up well. With the four of us in the same film, Apne 2 is one of the most special movies of my life. As for Gadar 2, we wanted a story that could emotionally be at par with Gadar. Gadar’s Tara Singh was not about pump ukhadna and chillana. It was a family’s struggle to fight divisive forces and be together. It had the ingredients of a great family film. We embarked on Gadar 2 only when we were sure we had something promising to take the legacy forward. It was a huge challenge to create something as good and live up to its name. I hope we have managed that.

I do feel that this is the most liberating phase of my career, and more so because of the digital world that has opened up, where you can make what you want and base your decisions on the strength and depth of a screenplay and story. You can play characters that you’ve never played, display a lot of detailing and layering in your performances and do what makes you happy as an artiste, without any box-office pressures. I feel that at one point in my life, I was typecast so much that my dhai kilo ka haath and my big action image overshadowed the characters and what they were meant to do in a film. But now, I can explore so much more. This is my time to fly as an actor and not struggle to keep an image alive. I am thankful for everything I’ve had, and I look forward to so many new experiences, roles, films and journeys, which will help me dive deep into my own emotions and enhance my understanding of life and cinema.

Beginning with a concert in Toronto on August 19, Sanjay Dutt was to headline gigs in Dallas, Atlanta, Washington and New Jersey as part of his tour, titled Sanju Baba Chale Amerika. The actor, who was the main draw of the tour across the USA and Canada, was to be joined by Arshad Warsi, Shehnaaz Gill, Maniesh Paul, and Neeti Mohan, among others.

However, in August, mid-day had reported that the shows were abruptly cancelled (It’s a no-show, Aug 28). While some stated that the makers faced logistical issues after block dates of the artistes couldn’t be matched, others blamed it on poor ticket sales.

At the time, while the organizers issued refunds to the ticket holders, Dutt flew back to India and utilized the dates to shoot his actioner Baap. Now, it is learnt that the organizers are planning to conduct the shows next year. A source says, “The team has decided to move the tour to March 2023. Prep for the shows will start well in advance.”

When mid-day contacted the organisers, Mehboob Haider, president, Splendid Global Entertainment Inc, said, “There are rumours about the show being cancelled; these are completely false. The show is definitely on track, and has been moved to March. They will be held in the US and Canada, as planned.”

Despite his recent health scare, Mithun Chakraborty seems to be in top form as he prepares to shoot for the Bengali film Projapoti, directed by Avijit Sen. The film will see him reuniting with Mamata Shankar decades after Mrinal Sen’s Mrigayaa. In a conversation, he talks about being excited about doing a Bengali film again, his take on the ongoing Bollywood versus South debate and more. Excerpts:

I have worked in more than 370 films now, but I still feel a bit nervous on the first day of any film shoot. Yes, I am also quite excited to do a Bengali film again. Shooting in Kolkata brings back so many memories.

I was young back then and there were so many offers coming in. Maybe at that time, I thought it was okay to say yes to almost every film. But had I done fewer films back then, would I be able to reach this position today? Who knows? Frankly speaking, I don’t think too much about it.

I think human values have been diminishing as we move forward, and I think social media has to be blamed for this. I know there are good things associated with online media, but now people use it more for negative things. Earlier we (actors) used to sit with each other and eat. Now, we just go to our vanity vans and get busy with our phones.

I can’t divulge anything about the film right now. All I can say is that I am more interested in doing films that go on to become landmark ones, just like what happened with The Kashmir Files. But yes, this film will be an exciting one. People are already talking about it.

Just see the films like RRR, Pushpa: The Rise - Part 01 or KGF - Chapter 2. Why do they become such big hits? Because people can relate to the story and its mass appeal. I think these films are quite similar to those larger-than-life masala films I used to in the 80s and 90s. The most important thing is you have to play to the gallery. The superstardom of South superstars like Yash, Ram Charan, Jr NTR or Allu Arjun has been used in these films with some amazing timing. That’s why people love them so much.

We have to learn from the previous mistakes and we have to carefully analyse what people want to see. Working on good content and at the same time choosing relatable stories will do wonders at the box office. I think Bollywood will soon come out roaring with successful films with amazing box office numbers. It’s high time we focus on mass entertainers.

I will continue to work for the people. I was not well for the last one year or so and that’s why I couldn’t concentrate on my political activities. But don’t worry, I will handle both my film and political commitments. After all, we are professionals.

Earlier this week, it was reported that Zee Studios and producer Ahmed Khan were joining forces for a project featuring Sanjay Dutt, Sunny Deol, Mithun Chakraborty and Jackie Shroff. The film is being designed as a heavy-duty actioner that will highlight the prowess of the action stars of the late ’80s and early ’90s. It is now heard that director Vivek Chauhan took the movie on floors on Wednesday at the Golden Tobacco factory in Vile Parle.

A source reveals that a set of a prison has been built at the site. “The makers wanted to commence work on the project with an elaborate action sequence featuring the four leads. After scouting for some standing sets in the city, the makers decided to recreate a jail at the Vile Parle venue,” says the source.

The director has lined up a week-long stint at the location with the leading men, after which the cast and crew will move to another location in Mumbai. The film has reportedly been titled Baap because the makers have envisioned it as “the father of all action films.”