Bollywood actor Ranbir Kapoor has been confirmed as the lead villain in Dhoom 4, as the popular action franchise officially enters pre-production under Yash Raj Films (YRF). Directed by Vijay Krishna Acharya and overseen by producer Aditya Chopra, the fourth installment is expected to be a major reboot of the franchise, aiming to connect with modern audiences and elevate the series to a global standard.

The Dhoom series, which began in 2004, has consistently pushed the boundaries of the action genre in Indian cinema. Each film has introduced iconic grey characters, starting with John Abraham in the original Dhoom (2004), followed by Hrithik Roshan in Dhoom 2 (2006), and Aamir Khan in Dhoom 3 (2013). With Dhoom 4—also referred to as Dhoom Reloaded—Ranbir Kapoor is poised to continue this tradition as the primary antagonist.

According to a report by Pinkvilla, Aditya Chopra has been closely involved in crafting the script with Vijay Krishna Acharya, with the vision of delivering a cinematic experience like never before. “Dhoom is a franchise dear to Aditya Chopra, and he has decided to reboot it keeping in line with the current times. The idea is to create a unique spectacle for global audiences,” said an insider.

Ranbir Kapoor, who turned 42 today, had reportedly been in discussions with the Dhoom team for some time and was enthusiastic about joining the project. The insider added, “Ranbir has always shown interest in the franchise, and after hearing the concept, he was excited to be part of Dhoom 4. Adi Chopra believes that Ranbir is the ideal choice to carry forward the Dhoom legacy.”

In an interesting twist, none of the original actors, including Abhishek Bachchan and Uday Chopra, will reprise their roles, as the reboot seeks to introduce fresh faces. The report suggests that two major stars from the younger generation will be cast as the new cop duo in the film, adding a fresh dynamic to the franchise.

“Dhoom 4 is shaping up to not just be the biggest film in the series, but also a tentpole feature of global standard from Indian cinema,” the source revealed, as casting for the film’s cop characters is now underway.

Ranbir Kapoor will next be seen in Nitesh Tiwari’s Ramayana, continuing his streak of high-profile projects. With Dhoom 4 now officially in pre-production, fans can anticipate a fresh chapter in the iconic franchise.