Bipasha Basu Returns to Acting in Hansal Mehta's Crime Series 'Barabanki'

Bipasha Basu is set to return to the screen after a long hiatus, having reportedly begun shooting for filmmaker Hansal Mehta's upcoming crime thriller series, Barabanki. The project marks her first collaboration with the acclaimed director, who she had long wished to work with.

The series is set in 1984 and draws from retired IPS officer Aloke Lal's book, The Barabanki Narcos: Busting India's Most Notorious Drug Cartel. It recounts a real-life operation led by Lal to dismantle a major opium cartel operating in Uttar Pradesh's Barabanki district. The narrative is described as a first-hand account of an IPS officer and his team taking on influential drug networks.

Alongside Basu, the series features Sunny Kaushal and Vishal Jethwa in key roles, though details about their characters remain undisclosed. Reports suggest Basu's character will have a strong connection to the protagonist, and she is expected to sport a distinct look, a departure from her earlier appearances.

Basu, known for films like Raaz, Jism, Dhoom 2, and Omkara, last appeared in the 2015 feature Alone. She made her OTT debut with the thriller Dangerous in 2020 but has largely stayed away from acting since the birth of her daughter in 2022.

Aloke Lal, who spent 37 years in public service before retiring as Director General of Police, also led operations against armed bandits in Shahjahanpur and oversaw counter-militancy efforts in Uttarakhand. He has documented several experiences in his co-authored book On the Trail of Thugs and Thieves. The series is co-produced by Prabhleen Kaur, known for Made in India: The Titan Story.