One of Alia Bhatt‘s long-discussed thriller projects is now firmly back in motion. Box Office Worldwide has exclusively learned that her Housemaid-inspired film is finally moving ahead, with Drishyam 2 director Abhishek Pathak coming on board to direct for Eternal Sunshine Productions.
Abhishek Pathak Comes On Board
The film is being developed as a fresh, twist-heavy thriller inspired by The Housemaid, but it is not being mounted as a scene-for-scene remake. The core idea is being reworked into a different storyline, giving the project its own identity while retaining the psychological tension that made the source material so compelling.
The script is currently in the writing stage, with the makers shaping the material before taking it on floors. The plan, as things stand, is to begin shooting after the release of Drishyam 3, which places this among Pathak’s next major directorial assignments.
Rajkummar Rao And Varun Dhawan In The Lead Conversation
The casting remains one of the biggest talking points around the project. Rajkummar Rao had earlier been considered for the lead role when the film was being discussed in its previous stage of development. Varun Dhawan is now also being talked about for the same part, although no final casting decision has been locked yet.
That makes the film’s next move especially interesting. Rajkummar and Varun bring sharply different energies to a thriller of this nature, and the eventual choice will go a long way in defining the film’s tone, intensity, and mainstream reach.
Why This Film Fits Alia Bhatt’s Banner
For Eternal Sunshine Productions, the project feels aligned with the kind of material that can help the banner stand apart. A psychological thriller with strong twists gives Alia Bhatt’s production house another opportunity to back a story that leans into mood, intrigue, and character-driven suspense instead of safer formula storytelling.
Abhishek Pathak’s entry also adds a commercially credible thriller voice to the film. His association gives the project both scale and familiarity within the suspense space, especially at a time when tightly constructed thrillers continue to find strong audience interest.
Alia Bhatt’s Recent And Upcoming Work
Alia Bhatt was last seen in Alpha, which released on July 3, 2026, and marked her entry into the YRF Spy Universe with its first female-led chapter. The film gave her a new action-led space on the big screen and delivered a moderately successful theatrical run. Before that, she appeared in Jigra in 2024, following her 2023 releases Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani and Netflix film Heart of Stone.
Her upcoming slate remains one of the strongest among Hindi film stars. Love & War is lined up as one of her next major big-screen projects, while Tumbbad 2 has also emerged as a title linked to her future line-up. Taken together, that mix of studio spectacle, thriller material, and prestige-backed projects shows how Alia is balancing star vehicles with more distinctive choices, both as an actor and as the driving force behind Eternal Sunshine Productions.
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