Anurag Kashyap is back with a new film, Nishaanchi, and this time he promises a mix of action, family drama, and raw emotion. The movie also marks the debut of Aaishvary Thackeray, grandson of Bal Thackeray, who plays twin brothers Babloo and Dabloo. The story is set in the small towns of Uttar Pradesh in the early 2000s and follows the two brothers who may look alike but live by very different values.
The trailer shows plenty of high-speed chases, gunshots, and emotional family scenes. Babloo finds himself caught in a clash with a powerful villain, played by Kumud Mishra, while also trying to protect his love interest, Rangeeli Rinku, played by Vedika Pinto. The film mixes romance, betrayal, and brotherhood in a way that feels both dramatic and entertaining. Kashyap himself calls it his “most cinematic” film, built on the emotions and drama he grew up watching in Hindi cinema.
For Aaishvary, the film is not only his launchpad but also a personal test. He plays two opposite characters and has also contributed to the music of the film. In his words, acting and music are like Babloo and Dabloo—different but connected parts of who he is. He admits he is nervous but excited to show audiences what he and the team have created. Alongside him, actors like Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub and Monika Panwar add depth to the world Kashyap has built.
Kashyap has spoken openly about how personal this film is for him. While people keep comparing it to Gangs of Wasseypur, he says Nishaanchi is different because it comes directly from his own life in Kanpur and Lucknow. He describes it as a story full of the humour, language, and quirks he grew up with, making it more intimate than his earlier films. Interestingly, the project was first written in 2016 and was even planned with the late actor Sushant Singh Rajput before it finally took shape with Aaishvary in the lead.
As the release date draws closer, Kashyap’s daughter Aaliyah has urged audiences to actually support films like this in theatres. She points out that while people often demand “good cinema,” they don’t always buy tickets, and films like Udaan, Lootera, or Masaan suffered because of that. With Nishaanchi hitting theatres on September 19, the hope is that audiences will show up and celebrate a film that blends Bollywood drama with Kashyap’s personal storytelling.