Anurag Kashyap is gearing up to introduce a fresh face to Bollywood with his upcoming film Nishaanchi: Aaishvary Thackeray. The film, slated to release on September 19, 2025, marks Thackeray's Hindi film debut, where he will be seen in a challenging double role. Kashyap, known for his unconventional storytelling and ability to spot raw talent, has expressed his reasons for casting Thackeray, emphasizing the actor's dedication to the project.

Kashyap stated that Thackeray gave four years of his life to Nishaanchi, which is the level of commitment the director seeks from his actors. He emphasized that he prefers working with people who can dedicate their time completely to the project, and Thackeray did exactly that.

Nishaanchi is described as a gritty drama, embodying Kashyap's signature style of intense storytelling and complex characters. The film's major highlight is Thackeray's double role, which is anticipated to test his capabilities as a performer right from the start of his career. Industry insiders are already calling him a true "man amongst boys", noting his maturity and screen presence.

The film also stars Vedika Pinto, Monika Panwar, Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub, and Kumud Mishra in significant roles. Backed by Ajay Rai and Ranjan Singh under the Jar Pictures banner, in association with Flip Films, Nishaanchi is penned by Prasoon Mishra, Ranjan Chandel, and Kashyap himself.

Kashyap revealed that the film was initially titled Babloo Nishaanchi, Rangilee Rinku, and Dabloo, but the title was eventually shortened to Nishaanchi. The initial title referred to the names of the central characters, with Babloo and Dabloo being the characters played by Aaishvary and Rinku being the character played by Vedika Pinto. The film follows Babloo's love for Rinku, which is disrupted by Dabloo's arrival, leading to conflict and drama.

The director has also said that working on Nishaanchi felt like a return to his roots, reviving the raw essence of his filmmaking style. He also mentioned that Nishaanchi is his "full-on Salim-Javed zone of film". He spent 69 days shooting the film, making it his longest and most elaborate shoot yet.

Notably, Kashyap had initially planned to cast Sushant Singh Rajput in Nishaanchi. The project was announced with Rajput in 2016, but after the actor signed two major films with Dharma Productions, he stopped communicating with Kashyap.

Even before the release of Nishaanchi, Aaishvary Thackeray has reportedly been signed for another high-profile project. He is set to star in the Hindi remake of the Telugu hit Baby, directed by Sai Rajesh. This positions him among the few who secure multiple projects before their debut film is released.