Harshvardhan Rane to lead Ekta Kapoor’s Shootout at Dubai, franchise goes global

Actor Harshvardhan Rane has reportedly been signed to headline Shootout at Dubai, an upcoming action thriller produced by Ekta Kapoor under her banner Balaji Telefilms. The film marks the third installment in the popular Shootout franchise, following Shootout at Lokhandwala (2007) and Shootout at Wadala (2013).

In a significant shift for the series, Shootout at Dubai will take the franchise beyond Mumbai’s underworld and into an international setting, with Dubai serving as the backdrop. It is also the first film in the franchise to feature a fully fictional narrative, moving away from the real-life police encounter stories that inspired the earlier installments.

According to industry reports, the script has been in development since 2021 and was co-developed with veteran filmmaker Sanjay Gupta. The screenplay reportedly underwent six major revisions before being finalized in late 2025, reflecting the makers’ intent to reinvent the franchise for a global audience.

Adding to the project’s momentum, Netflix has reportedly acquired the digital streaming rights for the film even before principal photography begins, a strong indicator of industry confidence in the project’s scale and commercial potential.

The film comes on the heels of Harshvardhan Rane’s commercial success in the 2025 romantic drama Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat and is expected to mark a major shift toward large-scale action roles for the actor.

With a reimagined storyline, international setting, and strong backing from Balaji Telefilms, Shootout at Dubai is shaping up to be one of the most anticipated action films to emerge from the franchise.