Abhay Verma and Shanaya Kapoor’s much watched collaboration has taken a decisive turn on the release front. The Shujaat Saudagar directorial, which was announced in March 2025 and went on floors the same month, now has both a title and a revised distribution route. Titled Jacob Cardoso, the film will no longer follow the standard theatrical path.
Jacob Cardoso To Release Directly On Ott
Box Office Worldwide has exclusively learned that Jacob Cardoso will skip theatres and opt for a direct OTT release. The release date and streaming platform will be revealed soon. Film was looking for buyers for quite sometime and after debacle of Shanaya Kapoor’s Tu Yaa Main, makers mulling the option of direct to digital release.
The film stars Abhay Verma and Shanaya Kapoor in the lead roles. Producer Vikesh Bhutani recently confirmed the title, saying, “Jacob Cardoso is its full title.” Speaking about the film’s setting and tone, he added, “It’s a beautiful film set in Goa, around the time when it was becoming a state. It’s a period caper.”
The OTT move gives Jacob Cardoso a sharper digital positioning at a time when streaming platforms are increasingly backing intimate, visually rooted stories led by fresh pairings. For Abhay and Shanaya, the film marks a notable screen collaboration and a shift into a textured period world.
A Fresh Pairing For Shujaat Saudagar’S Film
Directed by Shujaat Saudagar, Jacob Cardoso brings together two young actors who are currently in an active phase of building their screen identities. Before the shoot began, Abhay and Shanaya participated in pre-shoot workshops to prepare for the film.
The film’s appeal will rest on how it balances romance, mood and its caper element within a specific cultural moment. With the theatrical route now being bypassed, the makers are clearly placing the film in the OTT space where performance-driven stories and distinctive settings often find longer audience engagement.
Abhay Verma And Shanaya Kapoor’s Recent And Upcoming Work
Abhay Verma had his breakout moment with the 2024 horror comedy Munjya, which became a major commercial success and brought him wider mainstream recognition. Before that, he appeared in Safed, which released on ZEE5 in 2023, and Ae Watan Mere Watan, which premiered on Amazon Prime Video in 2024.
Abhay will next be seen with Rasha Thadani in Laikey Laikaa, produced by Phantom Studios. The film is being positioned as a romantic actioner and is planned for a theatrical release in Summer 2026. Announcing the film, Rasha Thadani wrote on Instagram, “She’s the chaos. He’s the calm. Or is it the other way around? Get ready for #LaikeyLaikaa in theatres, Summer 2026!”
Shanaya Kapoor made her film debut with Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan in 2025 and was recently seen alongside Adarsh Gourav in Tu Yaa Main. With Jacob Cardoso, she enters a period romance space, while Abhay continues to build on the momentum of his post-Munjya phase.
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