She is back to put her charm on display and seductively woo the men in her life. The fiery femme fatale of one of Netflix’s popular thrillers isn’t done just yet. Taapsee Pannu returns for the third instalment of the Haseen Dillruba franchise. A month after the actor and the film’s writer-producer Kanika Dhillon teased the third edition in an online interaction, mid-day has learnt that work on the script is officially underway.

“The prep is in full-swing. The team knew that the love story between Rani and Rishu [played by Vikrant Massey] with its pulpy narrative had scope for another part,” says a source. The romantic crime thriller originally premiered on the OTT giant in 2021, quickly earning cult status for its mix of small-town charm, seductive tension, and unexpected twists. Its sequel, Phir Aayi Haseen Dillruba, released in August 2024, continuing the twisted tale of love.

Now, insiders suggest that the third part will raise the bar even further. “It is one of the most successful titles for the platform. So, the aim is to create a more fun, juicy and thrilling third part,” the source adds. 

Pannu has wrapped up Gandhari and is filming Mulk 2, directed by Anubhav Sinha. Despite her packed schedule, she will dive back into the world of passion and peril by end of the year.

With Dunki, it’s a homecoming of sorts for Kanika Dhillon. Over 16 years ago, she began her Bollywood journey with Shah Rukh Khan’s Red Chillies Entertainment as a script supervisor and assistant director. Today, she shares the writing credit on the superstar’s Christmas offering.

“I am a fan first, so I was happy that I got to work with him again. I hope I get to do more work with him because that’s the dream,” begins Dhillon, who has co-written Dunki with director Rajkumar Hirani and Abhijat Joshi.

During her four-year stint at Khan’s production house, Dhillon served as an assistant director on Om Shanti Om (2007), and wrote the screenplay and dialogues of Ra.One (2011). As she turns producer with Katha Pictures, she is reminded of her days as a rank newcomer.

“Shah Rukh is the best mentor I’ve ever had. He has taught me most of the things I know about storytelling and Bollywood. Also, I have worked with so many people, but I haven’t seen a producer like Shah Rukh. He is magnanimous, and teaches you to be a better human being.”

At the moment, Dhillon is busy with the prep of her maiden production, Do Patti that will be led by Kajol and Kriti Sanon. The thriller is set to go on floors in a month. What’s also keeping her busy is the sequel to Haseen Dillruba (2021), Phir Aayi Haseen Dillruba. While the Taapsee Pannu and Vikrant Massey-starrer was directed by Vinil Mathew, the sequel has been helmed by Jayprad Desai. Dhillon, who serves as a writer and co-producer, promises more twists with Phir Aayi Haseen Dillruba.

“It is twice as wicked and unpredictable as the first film. We were so happy with the love we got for Haseen Dillruba. So, we are coming with the sequel soon.”

From an assistant director to a writer to now a producer, it has been a long and steady rise for Dhillon. “I feel a sense of gratitude when writers come up to me and say, ‘Ma’am, your work has inspired us to write more.’ They can see that you can achieve milestones in your career.”

They held hands and walked away into the sunset. That is where Taapsee Pannu and Vikrant Massey’s thriller Haseen Dillruba (2021), directed by Vinil Mathew, ended. Since then, talk of a sequel has been making the rounds. Writer-producer Kanika Dhillon and producer Anand L Rai let the cat out of the bag when, in an exchange of tweets, they announced Phir Aayi Haseen Dillruba, with new addition Sunny Kaushal in the mix, in January.

Thrilled to be part of the thriller genre that he grew up reading about in novels, Kaushal says, “[I have] read those murder mysteries and [would often] get excited about their world and characters. Now, I am getting to play such a character. It’s fantastic and such a new experience for me. It is lovely to share screen space with Vikrant and Taapsee.”

Kaushal, who received a call from Dhillon for the role, was thrilled to join the cast. “Haseen Dilruba was a proper pulpy thriller. To be a part of that world is amazing,” he says. Taking the baton from Mathew for the sequel is director Jayprad Desai.

Massey, whose performance in the first part was unanimously loved, cannot stop gushing about how the sequel is shaping up. “We are done with our outdoor stint after a month and a half of shooting. I got back to [Mumbai] to promote Gaslight,” says Massey, whose Disney+ Hotstar film, also starring Sara Ali Khan and Chitrangda Singh, has just aired on the streaming platform.

Talking about Desai, who is known for “the beautiful film Kaun Pravin Tambe”, he says, “It is exciting to work with him. [I had fun] getting back together with Taapsee, and now we have Sunny with us too. The film is crazier, edgier, and pulpier than before. The audience loved watching us in the first part, and I am hopeful they will love us again.”

Taapsee Pannu is known for her diverse characters, such as Prakashi in Saand ki Aankh (2019) and Rani in Haseen Dillruba (2021), and is often referred to as an “unconventional” heroine. However, the pressure to deliver something out-of-the-box in every film can be overwhelming for the actor.

“I appreciate that people have a certain perception of me, and that they expect me to do something unconventional and different from the norm. But, looking at my work solely through that lens and anticipating something drastically different in every frame of every movie can be harsh, unfair and brutal. While I can experiment with my character, the story and the world around it, there are certain limitations as it’s the same human being performing all of those roles. I do feel the pressure sometimes,” Pannu explains.

The actor believes that if the audience watches her work without any preconceived notions or judgments, they will see variety and uniqueness in each film she does. “I became an actor because I enjoy the craft and the process of it, not for the fame and glory that come with it,” she says.

Pannu has an exciting lineup of movies, including Phir Aayi Haseen Dillruba (a thriller), Woh Ladki Hai Kahaan (a comedy) and a comedy-drama with actor Shah Rukh Khan, Dunki, about which she did not reveal much.

However, regarding the leaked pictures from the sets of Dunki, the actor shares, “The pictures were taken on the Westminster Bridge in London during a Sunday morning shoot. It’s impossible to stop people when they’ve come to see ‘The Shah Rukh Khan’. I think that was the best Sunday morning for many of us, to see him there on that bridge. While we try to keep people away so they can enjoy certain looks and moments on screen, it’s inevitable when you have such a big star in front of you.”