Anil Sharma Confirms Four-Part ‘Arjun Naga’ Saga Starring Utkarsh Sharma and Arjun Rampal

Filmmaker Anil Sharma is planning an unusually ambitious project with Arjun Naga, confirming that the upcoming period drama will unfold across four films, rather than following the more familiar two-part franchise format. The project stars his son, Utkarsh Sharma, in the lead role, with Arjun Rampal playing the antagonist.

In an interview with Mid-Day published on October 17, 2026, Anil Sharma said the saga would explore Dubai’s oil rush during the 1960s. He also revealed that each instalment would have a different title, while the larger story would feature 10–12 prominent actors in pivotal roles across the four films.

What is the story behind Arjun Naga?

The period drama draws its historical backdrop from a defining phase in Dubai’s economic transformation. Oil was discovered in the offshore Fateh field in 1966, following an exploration concession granted to Continental Oil Company in 1963. Production began in 1969, according to Dubai Petroleum’s historical timeline.

The film’s central character is fictional. According to the plot details reported by Mid-Day, Utkarsh’s character rises from extreme poverty to become one of Dubai’s wealthiest men as the emirate changes around him.

The narrative is expected to explore how the oil boom reshaped fortunes and created new power dynamics. That historical setting gives the filmmakers scope to build a story across different stages of a character’s life, rather than confining the entire journey to a single film.

The historical events provide the backdrop; the characters and their personal struggles are part of the film’s dramatic interpretation.

Why is Anil Sharma making four films?

Speaking to Mid-Day, Sharma confirmed that the project would be made in four parts and that each instalment would have its own title. He also said filming would take place in Mumbai, Rajasthan, other locations across India, Dubai and additional international cities.

A four-film commitment is a substantial undertaking because it requires the story, production schedule and cast to remain coherent across multiple instalments. It also creates a different commercial challenge: the filmmakers will need to sustain audience interest over a longer period instead of relying on the success of one film to decide whether a sequel should be made.

Sharma has experience working with a continuing story through Gadar: Ek Prem Katha (2001) and its sequel, Gadar 2 (2023). However, Arjun Naga represents a larger planned structure, with four instalments announced as part of the project’s design.

Who is part of the Arjun Naga cast?

The currently reported cast includes:

• Utkarsh Sharma: The lead character, Arjun Naga.

• Arjun Rampal: The antagonist.

• Randeep Hooda: A member of the ensemble cast.

• Celina Jaitly: Recently announced as part of the project.

Celina confirmed her association with the film in a social-media post, expressing enthusiasm about working with Anil Sharma and the cast. The announcements establish a sizeable ensemble, although the makers have not publicly disclosed every character’s role or how the cast will be distributed across all four films.

The music is also taking shape. Bollywood Hungama previously reported that Himesh Reshammiya had been signed to compose for the project. The full soundtrack details and release plans for the individual instalments have not yet been announced.

When will Arjun Naga release?

The first instalment was reported to be filming at Film City in Mumbai, with production expected to continue into 2027. Mid-Day reported that the first part was expected to wrap by March 2027. This is a production target, not a confirmed theatrical release date.

The makers have not announced confirmed release dates for all four instalments. Nor have they publicly detailed the complete schedule for the saga, so it would be premature to assume that the four films will arrive annually or within a fixed time frame.

The Celebrity Hour Take

The most significant aspect of Arjun Naga is not simply its four-part format, but the decision to commit to that structure before the first instalment has reached theatres. It suggests that Sharma wants to tell a story with a longer arc, using Dubai’s oil boom as the setting for a rise from poverty to wealth and influence.

The approach carries both opportunity and risk. Multiple films could give the characters and historical backdrop more room to develop, but a long-running saga also depends on consistent storytelling, production discipline and audience engagement from one instalment to the next.

The comparison with Dhurandhar and Ramayana is useful in understanding the current appetite for large-scale, multi-film storytelling in Indian cinema. However, Arjun Naga is taking a distinct route by planning four parts with changing titles. Whether that ambitious structure translates into a compelling cinematic experience will depend on the execution of the first film and how effectively the larger narrative unfolds.

Sources & Verification

The report is based on Anil Sharma’s comments to Mid-Day, secondary coverage of the project and cast announcements, and Dubai Petroleum’s historical timeline for the Fateh field. The four-part plan is attributed to the filmmaker; the full release schedule and details of later instalments remain unannounced.