If the third instalment of Salman Khan’s Tiger franchise will see a new face with Emraan Hashmi coming on board as the antagonist, it will also have some old players returning to the spy thriller’s universe. Ranvir Shorey, who portrayed Khan’s handler Gopi Arya in Ek Tha Tiger (2012), will reprise his role in Tiger 3.

Shorey is expected to begin shooting for his portions at Yash Raj Films studio in Andheri next week. “While Gavie Chahal, who had a prominent role in Kabir Khan’s Ek Tha Tiger as a section captain of the Inter-Services Intelligence [ISI], transitioned to Tiger Zinda Hai [2017], Ranvir’s character wasn’t extended to the Ali Abbas Zafar-directed venture. When writing the third part, producer Aditya Chopra and writer Jaideep Sahni decided to bring him back as the trusted aide of RAW agent Avinash Singh Rathore, portrayed by Salman. The superstar and Ranvir will begin by filming a comedy sequence with a female actor, following it up with a few high-octane scenes,” reveals a trade source.