Shaad Randhawa Joins Emraan Hashmi in Gunmaaster G9, Setting Up a Rare Double Release
Bollywood actor Shaad Randhawa is heading into an unusual milestone in his career: two films featuring him are scheduled to arrive in cinemas on the same day. The actor will appear in Sooraj Barjatya’s family entertainer Yeh Prem Mol Liya and Emraan Hashmi’s action musical Gunmaaster G9, both slated for release on November 27.
The pairing puts Randhawa in two very different cinematic worlds. One film is positioned as a clean, family-oriented story, while the other promises a louder mix of action, music and mass appeal. For an actor whose career has often moved between supporting roles and memorable appearances, the simultaneous releases could introduce him to audiences in contrasting ways.
A key role in Emraan Hashmi’s action film
Randhawa’s involvement in Gunmaaster G9 was not immediately obvious. Last month, he shared a photograph with Hashmi and director Aditya Datt, adding the playful caption: “#GunmasterG9 … Yeh film mein bhi ghuss jao kya?? Kya bolte bhai log?” The post prompted speculation that he might simply have visited the set rather than joined the cast.
According to a source cited by Bollywood Hungama, however, Randhawa has a “crucial role” in the film. The source said the makers approached him, and he was pleased to come aboard. His off-screen camaraderie with Hashmi also helped make the reunion a natural fit for the team.
The project marks another collaboration between Randhawa and Hashmi, who have previously shared screen space in Awarapan and its follow-up, Awarapan 2. Their association is likely to be of particular interest to viewers familiar with the earlier film, which remains one of the notable titles in both actors’ filmographies.
From early film roles to renewed audience attention
Randhawa made his film debut with Woh Lamhe in 2006 and followed it with appearances in films including Awarapan (2007), Aashiqui 2 (2013) and Ek Villain (2014). Across these projects, he built a steady screen presence, often contributing to ensemble casts rather than occupying the central spotlight.
That visibility rose sharply in 2025, when he became the only actor common to two sleeper successes, Saiyaara and Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat. The coincidence caught the attention of online audiences and helped bring fresh recognition to his work. For many viewers, it was a reminder that familiar supporting performers can become a talking point when their appearances connect with popular films.
His brief appearance in Awarapan 2 earlier this year offered another example of how much impact a short screen moment can have. Randhawa reportedly appeared in just one shot, yet the scene drew whistles and cheers from moviegoers. The response reflected both audience affection for the franchise and growing interest in the actor himself.
Two releases, two different audience experiences
Randhawa had already been linked to Yeh Prem Mol Liya, directed by Sooraj Barjatya and starring Ayushmann Khurrana and Sharvari. Its November 27 release date now places it directly alongside Gunmaaster G9, creating a rare scheduling situation for the actor.
The contrast between the films may prove especially compelling. Barjatya’s project is described as a family entertainer, a format associated with stories designed for a broad, multigenerational audience. Gunmaaster G9, by comparison, is being presented as a mass-market musical action film. Randhawa’s roles in the two productions could therefore showcase different facets of his screen persona within a single day at the cinema.
For audiences, the box-office clash offers a choice between distinct styles of Bollywood storytelling rather than two similar releases competing for the same mood. It may also encourage viewers to see Randhawa in both films and compare how he fits into each ensemble.
Gunmaaster G9 trailer set for November 11
Interest in the action film is set to build with the trailer’s unveiling on November 11, as announced by its makers. The promotional video is reportedly 2 minutes and 40 seconds long and has received an ‘A’ certificate from the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), indicating that the preview carries content restricted to adult audiences.
Bollywood Hungama has also reported that the trailer will be launched at a multiplex in Pune in a grand event. A theatrical launch can give the film an early opportunity to generate audience reactions and online discussion, particularly if the promo delivers the action-heavy tone suggested by its positioning.
A recently released poster featuring Hashmi with a smoking gun has already added to the film’s intense visual identity. The trailer should offer a clearer sense of the story, music and character dynamics—including how Randhawa’s role fits into the film’s world.
With a long career behind him, a renewed wave of audience attention and two contrasting releases arriving together, Randhawa is entering a distinctive moment in his Bollywood journey. Whether moviegoers choose family entertainment, action spectacle or both, November 27 will give them an uncommon chance to see the actor in two very different cinematic settings.
