Tigmanshu Dhulia’s latest directorial work, the crime drama Ghamasaan, premiered on ZEE5 on September 11, 2026. The series stars Arshad Warsi and Pratik Gandhi in a story set in the Bundelkhand region of Uttar Pradesh.
The project marks Dhulia’s return to the world of dacoits, a territory he previously explored in the acclaimed 2012 film Paan Singh Tomar starring Irrfan Khan. Ghamasaan is inspired by the life of the notorious dacoit Dadua, according to the creators.
A Cat-and-Mouse Conflict
The story is set in 2006. Arshad Warsi plays Maharaj, a feared dacoit operating from the jungles of Bundelkhand. He has influence over local politicians and police, making him difficult to pursue.
Pratik Gandhi plays Aditya Singh, an honest IPS officer sent with a Special Task Force to control the region during elections. His mission is to stop Maharaj’s activities and ensure the election process proceeds smoothly.
What begins as a standard cop-versus-criminal pursuit becomes a larger conflict. As Aditya digs deeper, he realizes he is not fighting one man but an entire system that protects the outlaw.
Cast and Production
Ghamasaan also stars Rajpal Yadav as Kalika, a key associate of Maharaj, and Ishita Dutta as Aparna, Aditya’s wife. Jatin Goswami plays Angad, Maharaj’s right-hand man.
The film is produced by Jyoti Deshpande of Jio Studios, along with Piiyush Singh, Abhayanand Singh, Saurabh Gupta and Ashwini Chaudhary of Golden Ratio Films. Miten Shah of Yaelstar Films is also a producer.
The story was written by Piiyush Singh and Ram Yash Singh. Dhulia wrote the screenplay and dialogues. The cinematography is by Dev Agarwal, with editing by Sourabh Prabhudesai. Music is composed by Manik Batra and Satya Manik Afsar.
Festival Run and Critical Reception
Before its streaming release, Ghamasaan was screened at several film festivals. These included the MAMI Mumbai Film Festival, the Cinevesture International Film Festival, and the Chicago South Asian Film Festival.
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Reviews have largely focused on Dhulia’s direction and the performances of the lead actors. A review in Bollywood Hungama rated the film 3 out of 5 and described it as a gritty and engaging crime drama, noting that Dhulia’s direction is praiseworthy and that the film belongs to Arshad Warsi.
The review also stated that Warsi, known primarily for comic roles, delivers one of the finest performances of his career. Pratik Gandhi’s restrained performance was also noted, with the review observing that he maintains a strong position despite being somewhat overshadowed by Warsi.
Dhulia’s Upcoming Project
Meanwhile, Dhulia has completed shooting for another project. He has teamed up with Nawazuddin Siddiqui for a musical thriller titled Woh Phir Kabhi Dikha Nahi.
The film is based on a short story by veteran poet and author Uday Prakash. Sources indicate the story is set against the backdrop of a slum in Delhi. Shooting has reportedly been completed, and the film is expected to release on a streaming platform by the end of this year.
This will be Siddiqui’s second role set in a slum environment, following his performance in Sudhir Mishra’s Serious Men in 2020. Details of the plot have been kept under wraps.
Dhulia’s Previous Streaming Work
Ghamasaan follows Dhulia’s earlier web series The Great Indian Murder, which was released in 2022. That series starred Pratik Gandhi, Richa Chadha, and Ashutosh Rana, and was based on Vikas Swarup’s novel Six Suspects.
It was during the shoot of The Great Indian Murder that Dhulia first told Gandhi about the character of Aditya Singh and the film that would become Ghamasaan.
Ghamasaan is currently streaming on ZEE5 in Hindi.