Mirzapur Star Priyanshu Painyuli To Play Cab Driver Turned Hacker In Pirates

News18

4 days ago

Last Updated:
Priyanshu Painyuli will begin filming Pirates on August 10 in Delhi, directed by Nishant Sharma. The film also stars Chandan Roy Sanyal and Gagan Arora.
Actor Priyanshu Painyuli is set to begin filming Pirates on August 10 in Delhi. The film, directed by Nishant Sharma, also features Chandan Roy Sanyal and Gagan Arora. Painyuli will portray a Delhi cab driver who evolves into a hacker, with the story delving into complex themes such as surveillance, morality, and identity theft.
Priyanshu Painyuli to star in Pirates
The first half of 2025 saw Painyuli focus on his directorial debut, Jaagar. With that project now completed, he returns to acting with this new thriller. Painyuli has gained recognition for his roles in Bhavesh Joshi Superhero (2018) and the popular web series Mirzapur.
Painyuli expressed his attraction to Pirates' dark and gripping narrative. 'The story feels intense, and I'm drawn to the film's indie energy. It reminds me of the impact made by Stolen and Girls Will Be Girls [2024], stories that leave a mark despite not being made on a grand commercial scale," he said.
Choosing to work with a first-time feature director was a conscious decision for Painyuli. He said, 'I have felt honoured to collaborate with filmmakers like Vishal Bhardwaj, Vikramaditya Motwane, Navdeep Singh, and Raja Menon, who are masters of their craft. But I also find it enriching to work with new talent like Nishant, who brings a fresh vision. There is a different creative spark in working with someone who is telling their story for the first time."
Director Nishant Sharma's background
Nishant Sharma, before embarking on this feature, directed the Amazon MiniTV series Couple Goals. He also worked as the chief assistant director on the TVF show Mr & Mrs.
Priyanshu Painyuli's career graph
Priyanshu Painyuli began his career as a model and assistant director before making his acting debut in Manuja Tyagi's film Love At First Sight. Following this, he received an offer from Farhan Akhtar to appear in the remake Rock On 2.
In 2018, Painyuli played the lead role in Vikramaditya Motwane's Bhavesh Joshi Superhero. He gained wider recognition for his role as Robin (Radhesyam) in the second and third seasons of the Amazon Prime Video action crime thriller Mirzapur. That same year, he appeared in the films High Jack and Once Again.
In 2019, he portrayed Kapil in the Netflix film Upstarts. The following year, Painyuli took on the role of a Bangladeshi crime lord in Sam Hargrave's directorial debut Extraction. He also starred opposite Taapsee Pannu in the sports drama Rashmi Rocket.
He married his longtime girlfriend Vandana Joshi, after being together for seven years, on November 26, 2020.
Priyanshu Painyuli also took on a new challenge as a director. He made his directorial debut with Jaagar, a film deeply connected to his roots in Uttarakhand. Painyuli has always been passionate about storytelling—a passion that grew during his film studies in Bangalore. With Jaagar, he returns to the mountains.
The story centers on Deepti, a woman approaching marriage and a major personal change. She visits Uttarakhand to document the ancient Jaagar ritual, a spiritual practice where local deities possess selected individuals. What starts as a professional project soon turns into a deeply personal exploration of faith, trauma, and self-discovery.
During her journey, Deepti meets Geeta, a local woman who draws strength from her divine possession to overcome an abusive marriage. Their stories intertwine that forms the crux of the plot.
Calling Jaagar his 'passion project," Priyanshu described the film as a 'shared dream" realised through love and relentless effort. 'It's even more special because it marks the first production from our own company, a dream Vandana and I built together," he said, referencing his wife and co-collaborator Vandana Joshi, who also stars in the film. 'This isn't just my film; it belongs to everyone who poured their heart into it."
First Published:
Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.