Anil Kapoor Returning for 'Nayak' Sequel Nearly 25 Years After Original

Co-producer Deepak Mukut says 'Nayak 2' is in development, with Anil Kapoor set to reprise his icon role that became a cult favourite.

Team THR India
By Team THR India
LAST UPDATED: JAN 06, 2026, 11:58 IST|5 min read
Anil Kapoor and a still from 'Nayak'
Anil Kapoor and a still from 'Nayak'

Anil Kapoor is set to return to one of his most enduring roles, with a sequel to the 2001 political drama Nayak: The Real Hero officially in development. The confirmation comes from producer Deepak Mukut, who said the actor will both co-produce and reprise his role in Nayak 2, nearly 25 years after the original film’s release.

“Yes, the sequel is in the works, and we are producing the film together,” Mukut told Hindustan Times, adding that Kapoor’s on-screen return is assured. “Of course, he will,” he said when asked whether the actor would also feature in the film.

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However, Mukut cautioned that the project remains in its early stages. Speaking separately to Bombay Times, he said discussions are ongoing and that details regarding the cast, director and production schedule are yet to be finalised. “It is too early to say anything about it since several discussions are going on,” he said. “We will announce it shortly. It is a legacy project. It’s been almost 25 years. Every film has its own destiny.”

Nayak: The Real Hero, directed by S. Shankar, told the story of Shivaji Rao, a television journalist who publicly challenges a corrupt chief minister during a live debate and is unexpectedly sworn in as chief minister for a day. The film starred Kapoor in the lead, with Rani Mukerji, Amrish Puri, Paresh Rawal and Saurabh Shukla in prominent roles. Amrish Puri’s turn as the authoritarian chief minister Balraj Chauhan remains one of the film’s most cited performances.

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The Hindi film was itself a remake of Shankar’s 1999 Tamil blockbuster Mudhalvan, and while it received mixed reviews on release, it has since gained a strong afterlife through television reruns and online circulation, with Kapoor’s performance frequently singled out by audiences.

Mukut also confirmed that Nayak 2 will only move forward once the script is fully locked. Reports suggesting that Kapoor had acquired the film’s rights were clarified by Mukut, who said the sequel would be jointly produced rather than independently mounted by the actor.

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