"I’m pretty sure we’ll be filling that up."
Film fans might be getting a new spy film starring Deepika Padukone and Katrina Kaif after it was hinted at by Pathaan‘s screenwriter Shridhar Raghavan.
Both actresses are part of Aditya Chopra’s YRF Spy Universe.
Deepika played Rubina in Pathaan while Katrina played Zoya in the Tiger franchise. The third instalment is set to release on November 10, 2023.
The YRF Spy Universe is centred on a series of spy thrillers.
After Salman Khan’s Avinash Singh Rathore had a cameo in Pathaan, Shridhar Raghavan hinted that Deepika and Katrina’s characters might join forces in the future.
Speaking about how there is a lack of women-led spy films in Bollywood, Shridhar said the makers plan on filling the void.
He said: “There’s a vacuum of those kinds of stories (women-led spy films) here.
“I’m pretty sure we’ll be filling that up. So, yes, there’s definitely a plan to make a spy film with the women.”
Shridhar went on to say that the idea is to not just bring the male characters together but also create an overlap with other characters.
He added: “There’s no limitation here and we don’t just plan on working with Hrithik, Shah Rukh sir and Salman sir.
“There are two other crucial characters in the universe – Rubina and Zoya.”
Shridhar – who also wrote the screenplay for War – said Tiger 3 will be an important part of the universe as it will give the audience a glimpse of the world that the makers are planning on building.
He explained: “Tiger 3 is in the process of being made and some other films are already being scripted. There are more stories that Adi sir has planned, which will explore every aspect of this universe.
“Tiger 3 will give you more illumination on the world that we’re creating. We’re playing around with a lot of things and we’re essentially having a lot of fun doing so.
“There’s so much more to explore. Something like a spy universe hasn’t been explored in Hindi cinema.”
“It’s a bit of a playground and we’re like a bunch of kids who’re extremely excited. There are lots of intentions and plans, and hopefully, we’ll do a decent job.”
Speaking about writing a screenplay for Shah Rukh Khan, Shridhar admitted it was “intimidating”.
He said: “And then suddenly you’re told you have to write a film for this person, and it’s intimidating in its own way because you want to be able to live up to the body of work they have done, and be continuing in that, and not bring it down a notch.
“But for every writer and director, that is a challenge.”