Jahn Studio, in collaboration with Amelie Films, has unveiled the poster and trailer of their upcoming Hindi mafia thriller ‘Cocaine’. The film is designed for a global audience and will premiere at the Cannes Film Market in May 2026.
Written and directed by American-Indian filmmaker Shravan Tiwari, known for directing the web series Murshid and two Hollywood films, including one starring legendary actor Eric Roberts, the film marks a bold new step for an Indian-origin international crime thriller. Following its Cannes debut, the film is expected to roll out across major OTT platforms in Europe, the USA, Australia, and Canada, with its India release planned around Diwali 2026.
Before sitting down for the rendezvous, Abhimanyu Singh, who plays the lead protagonist Jalal, a diligent and dedicated police inspector, spoke about the serious issue of drug abuse. He said, “Despite trying to remain on the right side of the law, Jalal gets pulled into a sinister web when a ruthless drug cartel targets his brother. He is forced to take extreme measures to protect his family while navigating a dangerous game of survival. It’s a must-watch film, especially for the youth, to understand how people get trapped in the drug network. It’s authentic and also highlights a burning issue that needs to be addressed. It’s going to be a global release.”
Excerpts
Your character Devi Trivedi in Inspector Avinash 2 is getting a lot of appreciation. How are you feeling about the response?
I feel extremely grateful that audiences are loving this character so much. I worked very hard on it, and we actually shot this project almost three to four years ago. There were times when I wondered why it was taking so long to release, but now that it’s finally out and people are appreciating my performance, it feels very satisfying.
Your look in the series is very unique and challenging. How difficult was the transformation into Devi Trivedi?
It was one of the most challenging transformations of my career. Every day, it took nearly two-and-a-half hours to get ready — from wearing the saree and applying makeup, lipstick, bindi, and nail polish to fully becoming Devi.
Initially, I was sweating a lot and felt uncomfortable in the costume, especially wearing the saree and petticoat for long hours. But once I completely surrendered to the character, a completely different personality emerged within me. That’s when Devi truly came alive.
The character has a deep emotional and symbolic layer. What did playing Devi Trivedi mean to you?
The role was emotionally intense and spiritually layered for me. As an actor, it pushed me to explore both masculine and feminine energies within the same character. It also made me more sensitive towards human emotions and identity. I believe characters like Devi Trivedi challenge actors in unexpected ways and help them grow both personally and professionally.
Your wife Sargam Singh has always supported your career. What would you like to say about her contribution to your journey?
She has been like a rock in my life. When we met, I was still struggling as an actor, and success in this industry is never guaranteed. But she never thought twice before standing by me.
Whenever I felt low, she supported me emotionally and guided me. I’m not very active socially or on social media, but she always makes sure my work reaches people. A huge part of whatever visibility I have today is because of her support and encouragement.
You’ve played many negative roles before, but what made you initially hesitant to say yes to Devi Trivedi?
Honestly, I didn’t want to do the role in the beginning because I found it extremely difficult and challenging. Director Neeraj Pathak kept insisting that I should do it, but I remained unsure for almost three months.
One day, Manoj Bajpayee happened to overhear my conversation with Neeraj sir. When I told him I was refusing because I’d have to wear a saree and completely transform myself, he said, “Then why are you an actor if you’re afraid of challenges?”
That conversation completely changed my mindset. I would say Manoj bhai inspired me to accept this role.
What was the best compliment you received for the character?
My wife told me this is one of the most difficult and effective performances of my career. She said I looked stunning in the role, and that meant a lot to me. I’ve also received wonderful appreciation from friends and audiences, which feels rewarding because so much hard work went into creating this character.
You’ve worked extensively in Hindi as well as Telugu cinema. How different are the two industries?
Honestly, cinema is the same everywhere. The language changes, but the passion and dedication remain the same. I don’t see a major difference between working in the South and in Hindi cinema.
Right now, I’m also working with Nandamuri Balakrishna on a Telugu project, and the experience has been wonderful.
Why do you think many Hindi films are struggling at the box office today?
I feel audiences are unable to connect with a lot of current content because it lacks rootedness. The soul and fragrance of Indian soil are missing from many films today.
Some films are caught between Western influence and Indian identity, and they lose clarity in the process. Another major issue is ticket pricing. Watching a movie has become expensive for the common audience, especially students and families. If ticket prices become more affordable, more people will return to theatres.
What advice would you give to newcomers trying to build an acting career today?
The most important thing is to work continuously on your craft. I personally come from theatre. I trained rigorously for nearly eight years and began my journey at Prithvi Theatre under my theatre guru Makarand Deshpande.
People noticed me through theatre, and work slowly followed. My advice to young actors is simple — keep performing, keep learning, and keep improving your skills. Theatre teaches discipline, voice control, body language, and emotional depth. Your work will eventually speak for itself.
We hear you’re now moving into production and direction as well. Tell us about that journey.
Yes, my wife and I have started our own production house, and I’m also preparing to direct. The inspiration came while working with Prithviraj Sukumaran. Watching him balance acting and direction so effortlessly inspired me a lot.
I had written a story and initially thought someone else would direct it, but my producer and close friend Neeraj Bhatia encouraged me to direct it myself. It’s still in the early stages, but I’m very excited about this new chapter.
What made you finally decide to direct the film yourself?
Initially, I had only written the story. I wasn’t planning to direct it myself. But when I narrated the script to Neeraj Bhatia from Opal Entertainment, he told me, “The way you are narrating and visualising this story, I think only you will be able to translate it properly on screen.”
His confidence in me became the biggest reason I decided to direct the film myself.
Can you reveal something about the film’s genre?
It’s a thriller with strong satirical elements. I’ve always enjoyed satire, and this story combines suspense with sharp observations about society.
Production can often become very stressful. How has Sargam’s experience been?
It has been a huge learning experience. In the beginning, we faced many teething problems. I made mistakes while identifying the right people for the production team, and later we had to replace a few because they weren’t delivering properly.
I genuinely feel many producers and financiers suffer because of unprofessional people in the industry. Sometimes people become greedy and damage the entire system instead of thinking long-term.
Sargam has been incredibly important throughout the process. At one point, the situation became so difficult that we feared the shoot might stop completely. We had nearly 150–250 people on set, and suddenly many issues started arising. That’s when she stepped in and began handling things practically and calmly.
She started understanding production management, controlling situations, and solving problems one by one. After that, things became smoother. Thanks to Mahadev, we were able to complete the schedule the way we had planned and also achieve the quality we wanted.
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