Randeep Hooda’s transformation into Merchant has arrived with exactly the kind of dramatic flourish a film like EETHA demands. The makers unveiled his first look on Thursday, October 29, 2026, positioning the character front and center just hours before the trailer launch. With a turbaned, intense new avatar now out in the open, Hooda has instantly become one of the biggest talking points around the film’s next promotional beat.
First Look Of Merchant Adds A Fresh Layer To Eetha
The official post did not play it safe. The team introduced the character with the line, “Eetha ke dil par raj karne aa rahe hain Merchant,” before adding, “Randeep Hooda as Merchant in #EETHA” and “Trailer out tomorrow!” The phrasing places Merchant directly inside the film’s emotional core and makes clear that Hooda’s role is central to the trailer rollout now underway.
That choice matters because EETHA is not presenting Merchant as a background addition. By unveiling Hooda separately ahead of the trailer, the campaign gives his character a distinct dramatic identity and signals his importance within the film’s larger emotional arc.
What We Know About Eetha So Far
EETHA is directed by Laxman Utekar and produced by Dinesh Vijan, Laxman Utekar, and Karishma Sharma under Maddock Films and Kathputli Creations. The film stars Shraddha Kapoor in the title role and is based on the life of legendary Lavani and Tamasha performer Vithabai Bhau Mang Narayangaonkar. The ensemble also includes Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub, Anant Joshi, Siddharth Jadhav, Nana Patekar, and now a prominently introduced Hooda as Merchant.
The film is currently listed for a theatrical release on December 4, 2026. Its teaser had already established a performance-led period setting rooted in Maharashtra’s folk stage tradition, and the Merchant reveal now sharpens attention on the interpersonal dynamics that will likely shape the trailer’s biggest moments.
Randeep Hooda’s Recent And Upcoming Work
Merchant fits neatly into Hooda’s recent screen phase, one defined by physically committed, internally heavy characters rather than easy star turns. His most prominent recent release remains Swatantrya Veer Savarkar in 2024, which he also directed, while Operation Fryday arrived on ZEE5 in 2023. With EETHA moving into its trailer stage for a December 2026 release, the film adds another performance-driven role to Hooda’s current run, and this first look makes clear that Merchant has been designed as a character with real emotional presence rather than a peripheral part.
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