And the script intended for the sequel will now be used to make a standalone original film. EXCLUSIVE: Rowdy Rathore 2 scrapped after 3 years; script now being reworked into a standalone original filmDisney India, which owns the intellectual property rights to the original Rowdy Rathore (2012) along with Sanjay Leela Bhansali after its acquisition of Ronnie Screwvala's UTV Motion Pictures, has reportedly been hesitant to greenlight the sequel despite initial discussions. 'With Disney unwilling to commit, Shabinaa Khan and Sanjay Leela Bhansali have decided to scrap the idea of Rowdy Rathore 2 altogether and repurpose the script into a standalone commercial entertainer, free from the Rowdy Rathore tag,' a source exclusively told Bollywood Hungama. The script, penned by veteran screenplay writer V. Vijayendra Prasad, is now undergoing significant revisions to make it a fresh, high-octane cop drama while retaining the mass-entertainment appeal of the 2012 action blockbuster that got Akshay Kumar on top of the Bollywood charts again after a series of box office failures. We have also heard that renowned Tamil filmmaker P.S. Mithran has been signed on to direct the film, with plans to take it into production early next year. Mithran is widely known for directing stylish and commercially successful Tamil films such as Vishal and Samantha Ruth Prabhu's techno-thriller, 'Irumbu Thirai' (2018); Sivakarthikeyan's 2019 superhero film, 'Hero'; and Karthi's spy action thriller 'Sardar' (2022). His next directorial, 'Sardar 2,' starring Karthi, SJ Suryah, and Malavika Mohanan, is scheduled to release in theatres in December 2025. Casting of this revised, brand-new action entertainer hasn't been finalized yet, but sources indicate that Sidharth Malhotra, who was initially in talks to headline the film, might not be involved anymore as the makers are now hesitant to cast him, citing concerns about his box-office draw in an action-driven role. Instead, they are actively seeking a younger, bankable star to play a hard-hitting, larger-than-life police officer who will go to any lengths to protect his people. The Production is being planned for early 2026.