Cinema VinesBipasha Basu is set to return to the silver screen after a multi‑year hiatus, having begun shooting for filmmaker Hansal Mehta’s upcoming crime‑thriller series Barabanki. The 1984‑set drama is adapted from retired IPS officer Aloke Lal’s book, The Barabanki Narcos: Busting India’s Most Notorious Drug Cartel, and chronicles a real‑life operation that dismantled a major opium cartel in Uttar Pradesh’s Barabanki district.
The series brings together a fresh cast, including Sunny Kaushal and Homebound actor Vishal Jethwa, while Basu’s character details remain under wraps. According to Mid‑Day, the actress began filming in Mumbai last month, marking her first collaboration with Mehta, a director she had long admired. The project is co‑produced by Prabhleen Kaur, known for Made in India: The Titan Story.
While Basu’s role is expected to have a strong connection with the protagonist, the series promises to delve into the wider network that supported Lal during his campaign against the drug cartel. The narrative also aims to portray the IPS officer’s broader career, which spanned 37 years of public service, culminating in his tenure as Director General of Police (DGP) and his involvement in counter‑militancy operations in Uttarakhand.
Aloke Lal’s experiences are also documented in his co‑authored book On the Trail of Thugs and Thieves, covering eight major burglary investigations. Basu, known for films such as Raaz, Dhoom 2, and No Entry, last appeared in the 2015 feature Alone and made her OTT debut with the thriller Dangerous in 2020. Since the birth of her daughter Devi in 2022, she has largely stepped away from acting projects.
With a distinct look for the series, Basu’s return is poised to capture audiences’ attention, offering a blend of historical crime drama and fresh storytelling under Hansal Mehta’s direction.
