The return of the Mirzapur franchise to the big screen has brought back several of its most recognisable characters, but one familiar face is missing Vikrant Massey. The actor, who originally played Bablu Pandit in the Prime Video series, has been replaced by Jitendra Kumar in Mirzapur: The Movie, a casting change that has attracted considerable attention from fans.
Bablu Pandit was an important part of the first season, with Massey’s portrayal becoming closely associated with the character. His replacement means audiences returning to the Mirzapur universe will see a different actor in a role they already know, making the recasting one of the film’s most noticeable changes.
Jitendra Kumar, best known for his performances in Panchayat and Kota Factory, takes over as Bablu. The decision initially prompted questions from viewers, particularly because Massey’s performance had helped establish Bablu’s personality and his relationship with Guddu Pandit, played by Ali Fazal.
The casting change became a talking point even before the film’s release. The teaser and promotional material revealed Kumar as Bablu, leading some fans to question whether another actor could recreate the familiarity associated with Massey’s version of the character. Others were willing to give Kumar an opportunity to bring his own interpretation to the role.
The makers have also retained several of the franchise’s key actors. Pankaj Tripathi returns as Kaleen Bhaiya, Ali Fazal as Guddu Pandit, Divyenndu as Munna Tripathi, Shweta Tripathi Sharma as Golu Gupta and Rasika Dugal as Beena Tripathi. The film also brings back characters from the original series while introducing new faces to the Mirzapur universe.
Interestingly, the film’s story goes back to the timeline of the original series, allowing characters who were later killed in Mirzapur to appear again. Munna Tripathi, who was killed at the end of Season 2, returns with Divyenndu reprising the role. Bablu, however, returns with a different actor.
Harshita Gaur, who reprises her role as Dimpy Pandit, has addressed the change and backed Kumar’s performance. She said that while audiences who liked Massey may miss him, she believes Kumar has fitted into the role seamlessly and that the chemistry between Bablu and Guddu remains natural.
The recasting also raises a larger question about continuity in long-running franchises. When audiences spend years associating a character with a particular performer, changing the actor can be a gamble, especially when the character has an established emotional connection with viewers.
In Mirzapur, that challenge is particularly visible because the franchise has built much of its appeal around recurring characters and relationships. Prime Video itself has previously described the characters as having become part of popular culture, reflecting the strong connection audiences have developed with the series.
With Mirzapur: The Movie now releasing in theatres, the response to Jitendra Kumar’s portrayal of Bablu will ultimately determine whether the recasting works for audiences. The film brings back much of the original ensemble while attempting to expand the franchise onto the big screen.
For fans, however, the question remains simple: can a familiar character still feel the same when the face behind him has changed?