Directors of Baazigar and Race, Abbas–Mustan Return After Nine Years with 3 Monkeys

Arjun Rampal, Vishal Jethwa, Mustafa Burmawala and Tenzin Dalha star in Abbas-Mustan’s latest film, 3 Monkeys, set to release worldwide on December 4. 

Filmmaker duo Abbas–Mustan have taken Mahatma Gandhi’s well-known Three Wise Monkeys and given them a distinctly 2026 twist with this upcoming quirky thriller. Unveiled through its first poster and motion poster, its campaign starts with the familiar three-monkey philosophy “Bura Mat Dekho, Bura Mat Suno, Bura Mat Bolo (“See no Evil, Hear no Evil, Speak No Evil”) before the world of 3 Monkeys takes over. 

The old instruction is now challenged. The monkeys change, and so does the message. It is the film’s new-age interpretation of the three monkeys that reflects the attitude, independence and fearlessness associated with today’s generation. It is ‘Sab Dekho. Apni Suno. Bekhauf Bolo (See All, Listen to your own instinct and Speak without Fear).’

Abbas–Mustan’s cinema has thrived on twists, deception, grey characters and the constant question of whom or what one should believe. The motion poster initially introduces the iconic Three Wise Monkeys before giving way to the film’s very different trio: Amar, Akbar and Anthony. Again, this is a different spin from the 1977 Manmohan Desai blockbuster.

Vishal Jethwa plays Amar, Mustafa Burmawala plays Akbar and Tenzin Dalha plays Anthony. Masked, armed and seemingly having far more fun than three men in the middle of something dangerous should, the trio immediately raises the question: What exactly are they up to? Is it a robbery? A meticulously-planned heist? Mischief on an altogether different scale? Or is there something more behind those masks? The announcement deliberately keeps the answer under wraps. 

Adding another layer of mystery is Arjun Rampal as Sanjay. His arrival changes the rhythm and the equation of the motion poster. Armed and formidable himself, Sanjay appears to share a connection with the three masked men, but the nature of that connection is deliberately kept under wraps. Is he chasing the 3 Monkeys? Is he working with them? Or is there another game being played altogether? That uncertainty sets the tone for the Abbas–Mustan thriller.

Rather than presenting its protagonists as grim criminals, 3 Monkeys introduces Amar, Akbar and Anthony with an unmistakably youthful irreverence. There is danger in what they are doing, but there is also mischief, confidence and an almost audacious sense of fun creating a world that sits somewhere between heist, suspense, attitude and unpredictability.

The masks of the three protagonists will remain central to the film’s identity as their promotional campaign unfolds, while the mystery surrounding Amar, Akbar, Anthony and Sanjay will gradually be revealed through the teaser and trailer.

With Abbas–Mustan returning to a world of intrigue, twists and deception, this time with a distinctly Gen-Zee temperament, 3 Monkeys asks audiences to forget what they think they know about the three monkeys. The film is  produced by Allarakha Vohra, Faruk Vohra and Sayeed Vohra, and presented by AJ Film Entertainment World. 

The director-duo started out with the 1990 Agneekaal and gained fame with the 1992 Golden Jubilee musical thriller, Khiladi, which featured Akshay Kumar, Ayesha Jhulka (both were far from stars then, and this was their first hit), Deepak Tijori and Sabeeha. 

Known for their expertise at twist(s) within each film, their hit repertoire includes Baazigar, Soldier, Ajnabee, Humraaz, Taarzan—The Wonder-Car, Aitraaz, 36 China Town, Race and Race 2. Even their dramatic film, Chori Chori Chupke Chupke, and their comedy, Kis Kisko Pyaar Karoon, had twists in their tales. Their last film was Machine in 2017, which introduced Mustafa Burmawala, Abbas’ son as a big-screen hero.

The duo is also known for introducing or giving the first hits to talents like Akshay Kumar and Ayesha Jhulka in Khiladi, Kajol and Shilpa Shetty in Baazigar, Arbaaz Khan in Daraar, Bipasha Basu in Ajnabee, Ayesha Takia in Taarzan—The Wonder-Car and Kapil Sharma in Kis Kisko Pyaar Karoon. And as can be seen from this oeuvre, they made several major stars essay challenging negative or gray roles too. 

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