Ahan Shetty Reveals He Was Contract-Bound for Four Years, Couldn’t Sign Other Films

Bollywood actor Ahan Shetty is currently basking in the success of his latest film Border 2, directed by Anurag Singh. The action-packed movie has collected ₹224.25 crore net in just one week, with Ahan portraying Lieutenant Commander Mahendra Singh Rawat of the Indian Navy’s 14th Frigate Squadron.

However, the actor revealed in an interview that following his debut film Tadap, he was not allowed to sign any other movies for four years due to a binding contract with Sajid Nadiadwala’s production house.

Four-Year Hiatus Explained
Ahan spoke to Mid-Day, reflecting on how January 23 changed his life. About Tadap, he said, “Tadap earned ₹40 crore, which was significant at a time when many films struggled to even cross ₹10 crore. People called it a poor performer, but we made a profit.”

He added that the success of Tadap came with immense pressure. “After the release, expectations were sky-high, and it was difficult for me. My confidence was low at the time. I was bound by a contract with Nadiadwala Grandson Entertainment, so I couldn’t sign other films for four years. Many offers came my way, but I couldn’t break the contract.”

How ‘Border 2’ Came His Way
Ahan also revealed how he got his breakthrough role in Border 2. “J.P. Dutta and his daughter Nidhi Dutta visited our house for dinner and asked if I would be interested in doing the film. I hesitated initially, unsure if an actor like me could be part of such a big project, especially after four years of inactivity. But eventually, I realized this opportunity was very meaningful for me.”

Box Office Performance of ‘Tadap’
Tadap, released in 2021 and directed by Milan Luthria, earned ₹26.91 crore net and ₹32.04 crore gross in India, with a worldwide total of ₹34.86 crore. The film starred Tara Sutaria, Swati Kapoor, Saurav Chakraborty, and Saurabh Shukla in key roles and had a budget of ₹27 crore. It is available for streaming on JioCinema and Hotstar.

Ahan’s Shelved Project ‘Sanki’
Additionally, Ahan was set to star in Sanki alongside Pooja Hegde, produced by Sajid Nadiadwala and directed by Adnan Sheikh-Yasir Jah. Scheduled for a Valentine’s Day release, the project was shelved and has yet to see the light of day. Following this, Border 2 became his third film—and turned out to be a blockbuster success.