Fighter' first look unveiled: Deepika Padukone, Hrithik Roshan gear up

Deepika Padukone and Hrithik Roshan’s upcoming action film, Fighter, has fans anticipating the upcoming release. The Yash Raj production is set to hit the theatres on the eve of India’s 75th Republic Day. On the occasion of their country's 77th Independence Day, both actors took to Instagram to share a 59-second motion poster of the film. Fighter, helmed by Pathaan director Siddharth Anand, also stars veteran actor Anil Kapoor in a pivotal role. 

Opening on a shot of flying air jets, the camera pans out to a background of an airbase with more fighter planes stationed within the frame as Roshan stands in full fighter-pilot gear. The camera changes perspective two more times in a similar manner to reveal the other two main characters of the film - Padukone and Kapoor. They, too, are dressed as Indian Air Force officers and rock Aviators similar to the Virkam Vedha star. The first-look motion poster for the main cast plays out in tune to a rendition of ‘Vande Mataram’, which is often sung as an ode to India.
 
Slated for an early 2024 release, Fighter will be the first film in which superstars will appear together. However, both actors have previously worked with the director on their respective projects. The Bajirao Mastani star most recently collaborated with the filmmaker, screenwriter, and producer for the film Pathaan and has also previously worked with him on the comedy-drama, Bachna Ae Haseeno. 

Despite his relatively diverse filmography, Anand seems to have found his forte in action-packed films. Apart from Pathaan, his most recent film projects were War and Bang Bang, both of which featured Hrithik Roshan as the male lead. 

Fighter was jointly produced by Viacom18 Studios and Marflix Pictures. It is set to be released on January 25, 2024. The specific choice for the release date and the branding around the film so far reveals that the film will be based on themes of patriotism, nationhood, and the passion to sacrifice oneself for the homeland. 

According to a report in Hindustan Times, Fighter was initially announced as a film project in January 2021 and was, at that time, planned for a September 2022 theatrical release. However, there were delays in the pre-production phase of the film due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the release date was later pushed to January 2024. It is believed that the film will be the first installment in an upcoming action film franchise.