Ayushmann Khurrana Remembers Mukul Dev at Udta Teer Trailer Launch: ‘We Sadly Underutilized Him’

Udta Teer trailer launch becomes a tribute to Mukul Dev

The trailer launch of Udta Teer turned into an emotional moment as the film's team remembered late actor Mukul Dev, whose performance in the upcoming comedy marks his final screen appearance.

The trailer, released on September 23, features Dev alongside Ayushmann Khurrana, Sara Ali Khan, Rahul Bose, Ram Kapoor, Suhail Nayyar, Gulshan Grover, Raghubir Yadav and others. The film is directed by Aakash Kaushik and is scheduled to release in theatres on October 9, 2026.

At the trailer launch, Ayushmann spoke about Dev's talent and reflected on what he felt was an underused career. He specifically recalled Omerta, which Dev was associated with as a creative force, before describing Udta Teer as a final tribute to the actor.

Ayushmann Khurrana remembers Mukul Dev

Ayushmann's comments at the event focused less on nostalgia and more on Dev's abilities as an actor.

He described Mukul Dev as an exceptionally talented performer and acknowledged that the industry had not made full use of his abilities. Ayushmann also pointed to Dev's association with Omerta as an example of the actor's creative range.

For Udta Teer, Ayushmann said audiences would get to see Dev one final time on screen and characterised the film as a tribute to him.

The significance of the moment is heightened by the fact that Dev died in May 2025 at the age of 54. His portions for Udta Teer had been filmed earlier, with a substantial portion of the movie shot in 2024.

Aakash Kaushik says this was Mukul Dev’s best work

Director Aakash Kaushik also spoke about his relationship with Dev during the trailer launch.

According to his remarks, Dev had been curious about how audiences would respond to his performance once the film reached theatres. Kaushik subsequently expressed the view that Udta Teer represents not only Dev's final film but also, in his assessment, his best work.

That is an opinion from the filmmaker rather than an objective assessment of Dev's entire filmography. The audience will ultimately see the performance when the film releases.

What can be established from the available information is that Dev's role was not simply a brief posthumous appearance. Earlier reporting indicated that his character has a confrontation with Ayushmann's character and is involved in both comic and action-oriented portions of the story.

What is Udta Teer about?

While the trailer launch discussion centred heavily on Mukul Dev, Udta Teer itself is built around an unusual spy-comedy premise.

Ayushmann plays Bilal Ahmad, a Pakistani spy who suffers memory loss during a mission in India. Following the incident, he begins believing that he is an Indian operative, creating the central identity crisis around which the comedy develops. Sara Ali Khan plays a member of India's counter-terrorism setup.

The trailer combines espionage, mistaken identity, action sequences and situational comedy rather than presenting itself as a conventional serious spy thriller.

The film is also Aakash Kaushik's feature directorial debut.

Mukul Dev's final performance

Dev's appearance gives the film an additional layer beyond its comic premise.

Earlier information about the production established that he filmed his portions during the 2024 schedule. His character's track involves a face-off with Ayushmann's character and reportedly includes both humour and action.

His presence in the newly released trailer therefore serves two purposes: it introduces his character to audiences who will watch the film, while also turning the movie into a posthumous opportunity to see one of his final completed performances.

Dev had continued working across Hindi cinema and television over several decades, making his final appearance particularly significant for viewers familiar with his earlier work.

Udta Teer reunites Ayushmann and Sara

The film also brings Ayushmann Khurrana and Sara Ali Khan together again.

Their pairing follows their previous collaboration in Pati Patni Aur Woh Do. In Udta Teer, however, their characters are placed inside a completely different setting involving espionage, mistaken identity and cross-border intrigue.

The supporting cast adds another dimension to the ensemble, with actors including Rahul Bose, Ram Kapoor, Suhail Nayyar, Gulshan Grover, Raghubir Yadav, Brijendra Kala, Supriya Pilgaonkar and Smita Tambe.

The film is produced by Karan Johar, Adar Poonawalla, Apoorva Mehta, Guneet Monga Kapoor and Achin Jain.

Why Mukul Dev's appearance matters to the film?

The strongest emotional element surrounding Udta Teer before its theatrical release is now Mukul Dev's presence.

The trailer establishes that his character is part of the film's larger comic-action world rather than merely appearing as a background figure. At the same time, the comments from Ayushmann and Kaushik have placed greater attention on Dev's contribution to the movie.

For audiences, the film will consequently carry two different expectations: it has to work as the comedy-action entertainer promised by its trailer, while Dev's final performance will naturally be viewed in the context of his career and untimely death.

That distinction is important. The praise from his colleagues can provide context about their experience working with him, but the performance itself will have to speak to viewers when the film reaches theatres.

The Celebrity Hour Take

The most meaningful aspect of the Udta Teer trailer launch is that Mukul Dev's final appearance is being discussed as part of the film itself rather than as a separate piece of publicity.

Ayushmann's admission that Dev's abilities were underused adds an important retrospective element. It raises a familiar question about performers whose range may not always have been fully reflected in the opportunities they received.

At the same time, Aakash Kaushik's strong assessment of Dev's work should be treated as the director's personal view until audiences have seen the complete film.

What makes the situation particularly poignant is the timing. Dev completed his work on Udta Teer before his death, and the film is now arriving more than a year later. His appearance gives the October 9 release an emotional dimension that was not originally part of the film's theatrical proposition.

For Udta Teer, the challenge now is to let Mukul Dev's performance remain part of the story while allowing the film itself to stand on its own.

Sources & Verification

This article was independently researched using the newly released Udta Teer trailer information, contemporary coverage of the September 23 trailer launch, earlier reporting about Mukul Dev's involvement in the film, and information about the film's cast, director and October 9 theatrical release.

The statements attributed to Ayushmann Khurrana and Aakash Kaushik are presented as comments made at the trailer launch. Kaushik's assessment of the performance being Dev's “best work” is treated as his personal opinion, not as an independently established fact. Details about Dev's filming were cross-checked against earlier reporting published before the trailer launch.

The article has been independently structured and written for The Celebrity Hour rather than reproducing the supplied article's structure.