Vikrant Massey is not returning to the ‘Mirzapur’ world for its upcoming film adaptation. PeepingMoon.com has exclusively learned that Massey has officially been replaced by Jitendra Kumar for the role of Bablu Pandit in ‘Mirzapur: The Film’.
Massey and the ‘Mirzapur’ makers are believed to have parted ways amicably. Sources say the ‘12th Fail’ actor was approached for the feature but was reluctant to portray the same character again. His decision is said to be also stemming from his disappointment with the show’s first season, where Bablu Pandit’s character was unexpectedly killed off, contrary to his expectation of a longer arc. Massey opted not to be a part of the film because he didn’t want to see his character meet the same fate again.
Producers Farhan Akhtar and Ritesh Sidhwani respected Massey’s decision and started looking for a fresh yet familiar face to embody Bablu’s intelligent, calm, and strategic persona. They found an ideal match in Jitendra Kumar, who has become a household name with his innocent portrayals such as Jeetu Bhaiya in TVF’s ‘Kota Factory’ and Abhishek Tripathi in Amazon Prime Video’s ‘Panchayat.’ He is believed to have commanded a substantial fee to step into Bablu’s role for this mainstream, theatrical crime saga.
The show's principal cast — Pankaj Tripathi, Ali Fazal, Divyendu Sharma, Abhishek Banerjee, and Shweta Tripathi — are all returning to reprise their iconic characters in the film version. Ravi Kishan and Mohit Malik have also joined the cast as new additions. Shooting began on Wednesday at Film City, with Tripathi and Banerjee set to join the sets from next week. Ali Fazal is expected to start shooting from the third week of September.
Produced by Excel Entertainment and Amazon MGM Studios, ‘Mirzapur: The Film’ marks a significant milestone in Indian entertainment as one of the first instances of a hit web series being adapted into a full-length feature film. Gurmmeet Singh, who has previously helmed 17 episodes of the series, is directing, while Puneet Krishna serves as the creator. The film is expected to be wrapped up by December-end, targeting a theatrical release in 2026.
