Exclusive | Avinash Tiwary To Collaborate with Aanand L Rai For His Next?

An intriguing director–actor pairing may be taking shape. Industry sources tell THR India that Avinash Tiwary, fresh off his menacing turn as Jalal in Vishal Bhardwaj’s O’ Romeo, could be teaming up with another acclaimed filmmaker: Aanand L Rai.

Sources suggest that the actor is in early talks with the filmmaker—known for his signature storytelling sensibility and grand cinematic scope—for a potential collaboration.

Which of Rai’s multiple active productions this could eventually feed into remains unclear, as the filmmaker is currently juggling a packed slate — including the previously reported large-scale period action romance.

According to industry chatter, these discussions are in the preliminary stages and there is a specific project in development that feels like a natural fit for the actor. "Aanand sir and Avinash have spoken about the broad strokes of the story. It’s early days, and nothing is signed, but there’s a definite interest in seeing what they can create together."

Rai last directed Dhanush and Kriti Sanon's romantic-drama Tere Ishk Mein, which was a huge hit at the box office. The film marked a reunion of Dhanush and Rai after their 2013 blockbuster Raanjhanaa, which co-starred Sonam Kapoor. The duo then returned for the romantic drama Atrangi Re, which released on streaming during the pandemic.

Tiwary, meanwhile, created buzz with his antagonist act in O’ Romeo, starring Shahid Kapoor and Triptii Dimri. Up next, the actor will be seen in the comedy Ginny Wedss Sunny 2, co-starring Medha Shankr. The film is scheduled to hit the big screens in April.

Apart from this, the actor will also be seen in Netflix series O Saathi Re, which has Imtiaz Ali as the creator, writer, and showrunner. Billed as a "captivating exploration of contemporary human emotions", the series features actors Aditi Rao Hydari, Avinash Tiwary and Arjun Rampal. It has been directed by Arif Ali.