Exclusive | 'Border 3,' General Harbaksh Singh Biopic, Operation Sindoor Film: Inside Nidhi Dutta’s Ambitious JP Films Slate

Producer Nidhi Dutta began the year with Border 2 and is now setting eyes on a sprawling five-title slate at JP Films, the production company named after her father, filmmaker JP Dutta.

Currently in various stages of production, the titles include a third instalment of Border, a long-form series inspired by the life and journey of legendary filmmaker OP Dutta (her grandfather), a biopic on war hero General Harbaksh Singh, a contemporary Air Force drama set during and after Operation Sindoor, and a large-scale treasure-hunt adventure franchise rooted in Indian history and mythology.

Following the box office success of Border 2 — which saw Sunny Deol return to headline the franchise after the iconic 1997 original — JP Films is keeping the momentum going. While Border 3 remains in early development in partnership with Bhushan Kumar, Nidhi notes that the film "represents our continued commitment to telling stories of bravery and national pride on the biggest possible canvas."

Alongside the central franchise, the banner is deep in development on two massive military properties.

The General Harbaksh Singh biopic is dedicated to the legendary war hero who commanded the Indian Army and played a pivotal role during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965, for which he was awarded the Padma Vibhushan in 1966.

"The film aims to bring an important chapter of Indian military history to a new generation while telling the story of a man whose courage shaped history," she says.

Then there is a contemporary Air Force drama, set during and after Operation Sindoor. The project is designed to explore the heavy personal and emotional costs of service. "While it delivers scale and action, it is ultimately a deeply human story about duty, family, and sacrifice," Nidhi shares.

Marking a thematic departure for the studio, Nidhi is also launching a large-scale, treasure-hunt action-adventure film. Designed as a cinematic event film, it will combine mystery and discovery to explore lesser-known chapters of Indian heritage.

"We expect it to be among the first projects to move into production. It’s the first time I’ve written something like this and it’s a franchise film so it will have two more parts," Nidhi adds.

Rounding out the slate is the studio's most personal project to date: a long-form digital series tracking the life and journey of Nidhi’s grandfather, the revered filmmaker OP Dutta.

The series is being mounted as an intimate look at cinematic history and endurance. It will tell a definitive story about "perseverance, passion, family, and an unwavering belief in cinema despite immense challenges, and the journey of my family legacy," Nidhi concludes.

In terms of timelines, the producer says some of the titles from the slate will begin rolling over the next couple of months, with announcements being made as individual projects move into shooting.