Sanjay Dutt has officially joined the cast for Baaghi 4, the latest instalment of the popular action-thriller franchise. His entry into the Baaghi franchise was announced by the makers on Monday with the release of a new poster, which presents Dutt in a grim and powerful visual.

The poster shows Dutt seated on a throne, dressed in blood-soaked clothes, holding a lifeless woman in his arms. The accompanying tagline reads, “Every Aashiq Is A Villain”, hinting at a potentially complex and antagonistic role for the actor.

The announcement follows the release of the first-look poster of Tiger Shroff as Ronnie, the central character of the film franchise. Unveiled last month, the poster depicts Shroff in a blood-covered state, sitting in a dilapidated toilet holding a machete and a bottle of alcohol. The graphic imagery suggests a darker, more violent direction for the character. The tagline accompanying the poster read, “This time, he is not the same”.

Dutt, known for playing the villain in films such as Agneepath and K.G.F: Chapter 2, is expected to bring a new dynamic to the Baaghi franchise.

Produced by Sajid Nadiadwala under his banner Nadiadwala Grandson Entertainment, the Baaghi franchise began in 2016, with Tiger Shroff and Shraddha Kapoor in the lead roles. The film grossed Rs 129 crore globally. Disha Patani replaced Shradhha as the female lead in the sequel, Baaghi 2, which released in 2018. It grossed Rs 263 crore worldwide.

The third instalment in the franchise, Baaghi 3 released in 2020, amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, with Shraddha Kapoor replacing Disha Patani as the female lead, and Riteish Deshmukh joining the cast. The film still earned Rs 137 crore worldwide.

While Sabbir Khan directed the first film in the franchise, the sequels were helmed by Ahmed Khan. A. Harsha will be directing the upcoming fourth instalment.