Shahid and Triptii`s Arjun Ustara shoot on track despite song delay rumours

Over the past few weeks, rumours have been rife that the shoot of Vishal Bhardwaj’s Arjun Ustara has halted, sparking speculation about the fate of the project. However, a bit of digging has revealed that the chatter is baseless. mid-day has learnt that work on the Shahid Kapoor and Triptii Dimri-starrer is progressing as per schedule, with the shoot underway in Bandra, Mumbai. “The cast and crew are filming daily. There is absolutely no question of the shoot being stalled,” says a source from the unit.

So, what exactly sparked rumours that the gangster film’s shoot had ground to a halt? The postponement of a special song perhaps, indicate insiders. It turns out a special dance number was to be shot in early April. “The shoot was deferred as the dancers we wanted weren’t available, and the song’s look and vibe weren’t working out at that point. That shoot has been rescheduled,” adds the source.

Bhardwaj took Arjun Ustara, also starring Randeep Hooda, on floors in January 2025. Since then, the actioner has been constantly in production, barring a two-week gap that preceded the ongoing schedule. Another insider notes, “There was a two-week break before the latest schedule began in the last week of April. The song was supposed to be shot during that time, but had to be held up. That may have led to these rumours. But everything else is moving as planned. In June, we have a long schedule in Europe, starting with Georgia.” The project is expected to be wrapped up by June-end.

Irrfan Khan. Pic/AFP

The film that wasn’t

Gangster Hussain Ustara’s life has long fascinated Vishal Bhardwaj. The filmmaker had envisioned a biopic on Sapna Didi, which was to reportedly see late Irrfan Khan play Ustara to Deepika Padukone’s titular character. Unfortunately, the project didn’t materialise.  

This article first appeared on Mid Day