Yash Raj Films just lost the rumored lead for its upcoming Dhoom reboot. Actor Ranbir Kapoor officially shut down industry speculation about his involvement in Dhoom 4 during a recent public appearance. And the studio must now find someone else to anchor an action franchise they haven’t touched in over a decade.
Kapoor delivered the denial at San Diego Comic-Con. He attended the event alongside Yash, director Nitesh Tiwari, and producer Namit Malhotra to discuss their upcoming film Ramayana. A host for the “Review Nation” YouTube channel pointed out Yash’s dual commitments to Ramayana and Toxic: A Fairy Tale for Grown-Ups. Then the interviewer asked Kapoor about the Dhoom franchise—something fans had been waiting for.
Kapoor completely rejected the idea. “No, right now I am working on Ramayana and another film called Love & War,” he told the Review Nation host. “Which is directed by Mr Sanjay Bhansali. That should be out on January 24 next year.”
His stated release date creates a minor scheduling conflict. The official studio timeline currently lists Love & War for a January 21, 2027 premiere. But the biggest takeaway was what Kapoor left off his calendar. He made absolutely no mention of Animal Park. Fans expect that film to be the direct sequel to his 2023 blockbuster Animal. Sandeep Reddy Vanga is directing it. Yet the title was notably absent from his upcoming slate.
Speculation around Dhoom 4 gained major traction in 2024. Reports initially suggested Aditya Chopra viewed Kapoor as the perfect choice to carry the franchise forward. Fans immediately assumed a sharp haircut posted by celebrity stylist Aalim Hakim was a look-test for the role. The situation mirrors how other prominent casting rumors routinely hijack the entertainment news cycle. Actors usually dismantle them later. Subsequent 2025 reports suggested Vicky Kaushal might take a villain role. Yash Raj Films hasn’t released a single statement about the production yet.
YRF Needs a New Lead for the Dhoom Universe
The Dhoom series originally launched in 2004 with Abhishek Bachchan and Uday Chopra. It hasn’t seen a new release since Dhoom 3 arrived in 2013 with Aamir Khan and Katrina Kaif. Kapoor’s definitive exit immediately sparked intense debates across social media platforms like the r/BollyBlindsNGossip subreddit.
Fans criticized the studio for relentlessly chasing cinematic universes. They pointed to the “Spy Universe” and Alpha as primary examples. Users argued YRF abandoned the grounded rom-coms that originally built the studio’s reputation.
Many argued YRF should abandon high-priced actors for the Dhoom recast entirely. Instead, they suggested younger talent could anchor the action sequences without inflating the production budget. Names like Lakshay, Raghav Juyal, Ahaan Panday, and Vidyut Jammwal dominated the fan casts. So the studio now faces a major decision regarding who they will eventually settle on.