Shahid Kapoor was most recently seen in Cocktail 2, alongside Kriti Sanon and Rashmika Mandanna. Directed by Homi Adajania, the romantic drama arrived in theatres on June 19, 2026, and marks Shahid’s latest theatrical outing.
The actor was previously announced as the lead of Ashwatthama: The Saga Continues, an ambitious mythological action film directed by Sachin Ravi. Backed by producer Jackky Bhagnani, the project was officially announced in 2024 and generated considerable curiosity because of its subject and scale. However, the film was eventually shelved.
In a recent interaction, Jackky Bhagnani opened up about the reasons behind the decision and revealed that several factors contributed to the project being put on hold. Interestingly, Prabhas’ Kalki 2898 AD also influenced the team’s thought process.
Bhagnani explained that when a film is planned on a massive budget, it needs to offer audiences something fresh and distinctive. After evaluating the concept, the team reportedly felt that their version of Ashwatthama did not have enough novelty to justify the scale they had envisioned.
The success of Kalki 2898 AD also played a role in this reassessment. The Nag Ashwin directorial featured Amitabh Bachchan as Ashwatthama in a large-scale mythological and science-fiction setting, giving the character significant prominence. This made the team rethink how their own project could stand apart and offer something genuinely different.
Although Ashwatthama: The Saga Continues did not materialize, Bhagnani revealed that his collaboration plans with Shahid Kapoor remain intact. The two have reportedly shared a friendship spanning nearly two decades and continue to look for the right script that can bring them together professionally.
For now, there is no officially announced project between Shahid and Bhagnani, but their long-standing association could eventually result in a new collaboration if they find a story that matches their expectations.
