Filmmaker Vishal Bhardwaj is gearing up to take on the digital world with Khufiya, his next project. “It is my first web project and I am very excited about it,” excitedly shares the director during an exclusive chat.

Based on a novel Escape To Nowhere by Amar Bhushan, it is based on a true story from the world of intelligence services, and Bhardwaj is teaming up with his “most favourite” actor Tabu and Ali Fazal. “Tabu is everyone’s favourite and my most favourite. My best work has been with her. I wrote this character keeping Tabu in mind. She plays the role of the protagonist, who is running the mission. I find Ali to be a very good actor, that’s why I chose to work with him,” he shares.

The Netflix film will go into production by the end of this month. He says, “Since it is based on a true event that happened in Delhi, around 70% of the film will be shot in the national capital and the rest of it in the USA.”

For Tabu, working with Bhardwaj comes with a great comfort level and creative freedom. “I have the best creative synergy with Vishal, and I can’t explain it in words. When he is bringing something to me, I can just close my eyes and say ‘chalo’. It has been a while since we wanted to collaborate with each other on the film, and it kept getting delayed because of the pandemic. I am so happy that it is finally happening,” says the actor.

The spy thriller will trace the story of a RAW operative, a mole and an estranged lover, and the director is aiming to release it in the second half of 2022.

“Amar Bhushan was the counter-intelligence unit head for a long time and has brought details of the surveillance operation where [it’s like] he makes you sit inside the RAW office (with his words),” shares Bhardwaj, adding, “Such detailing of intelligence services has never before been written in a book or even shown in a film.”