In what is being hailed as the most significant collaboration of the year, Bollywood’s action powerhouse John Abraham and blockbuster director Rohit Shetty are reportedly joining forces for a gritty investigative drama. While Shetty is synonymous with his fictional “Cop Universe,” industry insiders confirm that his next venture is a grounded biopic titled Maria IPS.
The film is set to chronicle the illustrious and often controversial career of Rakesh Maria, the former Commissioner of Police, Mumbai.
For years, the Rohit Shetty brand has been defined by high-speed car chases and gravity-defying stunts. However, Maria IPS marks a sharp departure for the filmmaker. Sources close to the production suggest that the movie will be a “realistic procedural,” trading flying Scorpios for the tense, psychological atmosphere of a real-life investigation room.
John Abraham, known for his disciplined physique and stoic screen presence, has reportedly been undergoing extensive preparation to mirror Maria’s mannerisms. The actor has spent time studying Maria’s autobiography, Let Me Say It Now, which serves as the primary source material for the screenplay.
The narrative is expected to span several decades, highlighting the defining moments of Mumbai’s security history. Detailing the frantic 24-hour investigation that led to the first breakthroughs.
The 26/11 Terror Attacks: A deep dive into the Mumbai Police Control Room operations and the interrogation of Ajmal Kasab. The Underworld Era: Tracking the crackdown on organized crime in the 1990s.
To maintain the “human” element of the story, Shetty has opted for real-world locations over massive studio sets. Filming has been spotted across South Mumbai, including the narrow lanes of Dongri and the historic corridors of the Mumbai Police Headquarters.
“This isn’t Singham,” a source from the set revealed. “This is a tribute to the intelligence and the grind of the Indian Police Service. John isn’t playing a superhero; he’s playing a strategist.”
With filming nearing its final stages in early 2026, the marketing campaign for Maria IPS is expected to kick off by mid-year. Fans are eager to see if this project will be a standalone masterpiece or if Shetty will find a way to weave Maria’s real-life heroics into the fabric of his broader cinematic universe.
An official teaser and title look are expected to drop on the production house’s social media handles later this month. To know such latest updates tuned to tellyboosters.com Thank you!
