Akshay Kumar to Play Tiger Hunter in Priyadarshan’s 99th Film

Milestone project

Priyadarshan is about to reach a career landmark with a favourite collaborator. Akshay Kumar will play a tiger hunter in the director’s next feature, an untitled comedy set in the 1970s, according to a Hindustan Times report cited by India Today. The project is being spoken of as Priyadarshan’s 99th film, with Ramesh Taurani on board as producer.

Shooting is slated to begin in the final week of November. The production plan, as reported, spans roughly three months: wildlife locations in Rajasthan, a set in Mumbai, and a scouting recce in Bhopal for additional footage. A schedule like that points to a film that leans on landscape, period texture and outdoor action rather than a closed-set comedy.

Who is in, who is still to come

The ensemble already has strong comic support in Annu Kapoor and Rajpal Yadav. The female lead is not finalised yet, so the casting puzzle is still open. That is often where a Priyadarshan comedy finds its most interesting energy, and fans will be watching for the announcement.

On the writing side, Priyadarshan has teamed with Rohan Shankar. The two share recent history from Bhooth Bangla, which should make for a smoother scripting process. For now, Priyadarshan is not giving away much. “Let the project get locked then I will talk,” he told Hindustan Times, as cited by India Today.

The bigger picture for fans

The reunion lands after two contrasting 2026 films. Haiwaan, adapted from the 2016 Malayalam thriller Oppam, placed Saif Ali Khan in the role of a blind man and Akshay as the antagonist. Bhooth Bangla, which reached cinemas on April 17, 2026, mixed horror and comedy with Paresh Rawal, Rajpal Yadav, Tabu and Wamiqa Gabbi.

This new project signals a return to a lighter, more purely comic register. The 1970s setting gives the film room for costumes, retro music cues and old-school physical comedy, while Akshay gets a character that sounds built for deadpan absurdity. For Hindi audiences, the draw is the pairing itself: a star who can carry mass comedy and a director who can give every supporting actor a moment.

• Director: Priyadarshan — his 99th film
• Producer: Ramesh Taurani
• Cast so far: Akshay Kumar, Annu Kapoor, Rajpal Yadav; female lead to be announced
• Shoot: starts late November, three months across Rajasthan, Mumbai and Bhopal

The milestone number already hands the marketing team an easy hook. Before a title or a teaser arrives, “Priyadarshan’s 99th” gives the project a headline identity, and the Akshay factor does the rest.

It also continues a busy stretch for Akshay Kumar, who has moved between thriller, horror-comedy and now period comedy in a single year. That variety may be exactly why the new announcement feels like an event. Even before casting is complete, the project has enough name value to dominate a news cycle.

Source: India Today