Akshay Kumar to Play Chief Antagonist in Ajay Devgn’s Golmaal 5: A Major Casting Coup
In a surprising and exciting development for Bollywood fans, Akshay Kumar is set to reunite with Ajay Devgn and director Rohit Shetty, but not in their popular cop universe films like Singham, Sooryavanshi, or Simmba. Instead, Kumar will take on the role of the chief antagonist in the highly anticipated fifth instalment of the blockbuster comedy franchise, Golmaal 5. This move is being hailed as a significant casting coup that promises to add a fresh dynamic to the beloved series.
Akshay Kumar’s Sequel Streak Continues
Akshay Kumar has been on a sequel spree, with recent appearances in films such as Kesari Chapter 2, Housefull 4, and Jolly LLB 3 in 2025. He is also involved in other franchise projects, including Ahmed Khan’s Welcome to the Jungle, the third part of the Welcome series, and Priyadarshan’s much-awaited comedy Hera Pheri 3, though the latter’s production schedule remains uncertain. Additionally, reports suggest he may star in Bhaagam Bhaag 2, a sequel to the 2006 hit comedy, directed by Raaj Shaandilyaa and expected to begin filming in mid-2026.
Now, Kumar is joining another major franchise, but this time, he will not be the lead actor. Instead, he is all set to be a part of Golmaal 5, the fifth instalment of Rohit Shetty and Ajay Devgn’s comedy franchise that first launched in 2006. Interestingly, Kumar will not be joining the core Golmaal gang, which includes Devgn, Arshad Warsi, Kunal Kemmu, Tusshar Kapoor, and Shreyas Talpade. According to Variety India, he will portray the chief antagonist, a role previously held by actors like Neil Nitin Mukesh and Prakash Raj in earlier instalments such as Golmaal Again (2017).
Akshay Kumar’s Rare Villainous Roles
Akshay Kumar has only played an out-and-out villain in a few films, and these performances have always garnered significant attention. His first notable antagonist role was in Abbas-Mustan’s 2001 action thriller Ajnabee, where he faced off against Bobby Deol. Seventeen years later, he took on the role of Pakshi Rajan, the chief antagonist in S. Shankar’s 2018 Tamil sci-fi action blockbuster 2.0, opposite Rajinikanth’s robot character Chitti.
It appears that Kumar may be entering a villain era, as he is also set to play the bad guy in Priyadarshan’s upcoming action thriller Haiwaan, starring opposite his Main Khiladi Tu Anari (1994) co-star Saif Ali Khan. After a mysterious cameo in Amar Kaushik’s 2024 horror comedy Stree 2, producer Dinesh Vijan of Maddock Films even touted Kumar as the Thanos of his Maddock Horror Comedy Universe.
While the exact genre of Golmaal 5 has not been confirmed yet—the previous instalment was a horror comedy—the franchise’s DNA is rooted in comedy. Kumar’s impeccable and unparalleled comic timing is expected to make his presence as a formidable antagonist all the more impactful. This role also marks his much-anticipated return to comedies, following recent hits like Housefull 4 and Welcome to the Jungle.
Akshay Kumar and Ajay Devgn’s Reunion
The reunion of Akshay Kumar and Ajay Devgn in Golmaal 5 will be their sixth collaboration, adding to their rich history of shared screen space. They first appeared together in Kuku Kohli’s 1994 action film Suhaag, followed by Rajkumar Satoshi’s 2004 political crime action film Khakee, and K. Subhash’s 2005 action crime thriller Insan. The duo also made cameo appearances in Sooryavanshi (2021) and Singham Again (2024), both part of Rohit Shetty’s cop universe.
A couple of years ago, during the Hindustan Times Leadership Summit, Devgn and Kumar announced that Kumar would soon star in a film directed by Devgn, who has previously helmed action thrillers like Shivaay (2016) and Bholaa (2023). While fans eagerly await that project, they will first get to see the two stars exchanging blows in Golmaal 5. The primary cast is expected to return for the fifth instalment, with Sharman Joshi—who was part of the gang in the first film—also likely to rejoin the franchise after nearly two decades.
Ajay Devgn’s Own Sequel Streak
If there’s another actor who has matched Akshay Kumar’s sequel streak lately, it’s Ajay Devgn. His run began with Singham Again a couple of years ago, and sequels dominated his lineup last year. He reprised his memorable roles in Raj Kumar Gupta’s hit crime thriller Raid 2, Vijay Kumar Arora’s comedy Son of Sardaar 2, and Anshul Sharma’s family comedy De De Pyaar De 2. This year, he is also set to star in the fourth instalment of Indra Kumar’s comedy Dhamaal and the third instalment of Abhishek Pathak’s crime thriller Drishyam.
Golmaal 5 is likely to begin filming at the end of this month at Goregaon Film City in Mumbai and is expected to hit cinemas early next year. This casting move not only adds star power to the franchise but also sets the stage for an exciting clash between two of Bollywood’s biggest stars, promising a hilarious and thrilling cinematic experience for audiences.
