Producer-actor Rahul Mittra has joined the cast of filmmaker Anil Sharma's upcoming period action drama Arjun Naga, starring Utkarsh Sharma in the titular role and Arjun Rampal as the antagonist. Mittra will portray a Balochi gangster in the film, which is currently being shot in Mumbai.
The actor-producer is filming with the cast at a large set in Film City. On October 13, Rampal and the film's unit organised a surprise birthday celebration for Mittra after a day of shooting. Mittra said the team began shooting at 6 am and wrapped up at 6 pm. Rampal announced the birthday celebration over a microphone after the day's shoot and smeared cake on Mittra's face.
The two actors have been friends for years, having first met while working on Daddy (2017), the crime drama in which Rampal portrayed gangster-turned-politician Arun Gawli. Mittra was associated with that film as a presenter and publicity and advertising partner. Arjun Naga marks an opportunity for the longtime friends to share screen space.
Arjun Naga centres on Dubai's 1960s oil boom
Directed by Anil Sharma, Arjun Naga is being developed as a period action drama set against the transformation of Dubai during the oil boom of the 1960s.
Sharma plans to make the project in four instalments, with each part carrying a different title. The filmmaker told the media that the story revolves around Dubai's oil rush and will feature 10 to 12 prominent actors in pivotal roles across the instalments.
The narrative will begin in the early 1960s, when Dubai was still a relatively small trading and fishing centre. The discovery of oil in the Fateh field in 1966 marked a turning point in the emirate's economic development. The film will explore the rise of fictional characters against this changing backdrop.
Utkarsh Sharma, Anil Sharma's son, plays the lead character, while Rampal has been cast as the antagonist. Nidhhi Agerwal is also part of the cast. Randeep Hooda and Celina Jaitly were reported to have joined the project on October 17, adding to the film's expanding ensemble.
The production began filming in May 2026, with the team subsequently moving into further shooting schedules. Sharma's earlier films with Utkarsh include Gadar: Ek Prem Katha (2001), Genius (2018), Gadar 2 (2023) and Vanvaas (2024).
Rahul Mittra's transition from production to acting
Mittra is known primarily for his work as a film producer, with credits including the Saheb Biwi Aur Gangster trilogy, Bullett Raja, Revolver Rani and Sarkar 3. He has also taken on acting roles in film and television projects.
His recent screen appearance was in Haq, the courtroom drama directed by Suparn S Varma and starring Emraan Hashmi and Yami Gautam. Mittra played Sessions Judge R N Tripathi, a supporting role in the film, which draws on questions surrounding Muslim women's rights and maintenance under Indian law.
His casting in Arjun Naga brings him into a large-scale period production that combines fictional characters with a historical setting. Details about the film's release date and the distribution of its story across the planned instalments have not been announced yet.
