The long speculation has finally come to an end. Ranveer Singh has been confirmed to play Shaktiman, India's most popular superhero to date, in a trilogy film adaptation produced by Sony Pictures India and Nadiadwala Grandson Entertainment. 

Ranveer will take on the role of the titular superhero and his alter ego, Pandit Gangadhar, a geeky photographer at a newspaper, in this ambitious three-part project. He steps into the shoes of Mukesh Khanna, who originally played the iconic role on the DD National TV show that amassed a massive fan following during its 450-episode run from 1997 to 2005. This role adds another dimension to Ranveer’s diverse filmography, packed with critically and commercially successful movies like Ram Leela, Bajirao Mastani, Padmaavat, Gully Boy, 83, and Lootera. 

Basil Joseph, the director of the 2021 Malayalam superhero Minnal Murali, will helm this film, which is planned to be mounted on a staggering budget of 300 crores for each part. Joseph is collaborating with his Minnal Murali writers Arun Anirudhan and Justin Mathew, along with the popular TVF series Gullak fame Durgesh Singh, to bring the enchantment of the legendary superhero to the big screen. The scripting is expected to be finished by the end of this year, after which it will go into a massive pre-production phase. The filming is scheduled to commence in the second quarter of 2025, targeting a festive weekend release in 2026. 

Before embarking on what's regarded as the biggest ever project of his career, Ranveer will finish shooting for Farhan Akhtar’s Don 3. The actor follows in the footsteps of Amitabh Bachchan and Shah Rukh Khan to portray the third generation of Don in this action entertainer, set to go on floors in August this year. He will also be seen reprising his Simmba role in an extended cameo in Rohit Shetty's Singham Again. Ranveer is also discussing a collaboration with a prominent Tamil director, but that conversation is still in the initial stages. Stay tuned to PeepingMoon for more updates!