Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai

Mumbai, Jul 26: Fresh off her National Film Award win for Article 370, Bollywood actor Yami Gautam is reportedly set to headline Kahaani 3, the next instalment in Sujoy Ghosh's acclaimed thriller franchise.

According to reports, director Sujoy Ghosh is returning to helm the third film, which is currently in the pre-production stage. The team is said to be working on the screenplay, production schedule and other preparations before the project goes on floors.

Unlike the first two films, which starred Vidya Balan in the lead, Kahaani 3 is expected to introduce a completely new storyline while remaining within the established Kahaani universe. Reports suggest the makers are taking the franchise in a fresh direction, with Yami Gautam leading the narrative.

The original Kahaani was released in 2012, followed by Kahaani 2 in 2016. Both critically acclaimed thrillers were directed by Sujoy Ghosh and featured Vidya Balan in the lead role.

On the professional front, Yami recently won the National Film Award for Best Actress for her performance in Article 370 (2024). The political thriller, inspired by the events surrounding the revocation of Article 370 and the constitutional changes in Jammu and Kashmir, saw her portray intelligence officer Zooni Haksar, a role that earned widespread critical acclaim.

Article 370 also won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film. According to industry tracker Sacnilk, the film collected Rs 78.12 crore net in India and Rs 105.15 crore worldwide during its theatrical run, making it one of the biggest female-led Hindi hits of 2024.

Yami was last seen in a cameo appearance in Dhurandhar: The Revenge (2026), directed by her husband, Aditya Dhar. Neither Yami Gautam nor the makers of Kahaani 3 have officially confirmed the casting reports.