iddharth Anand, after directing Shah Rukh Khan, Deepika Padukone and John Abraham starrer Pathaan, is gearing up to helm his next Fighter. The director will reunite with his War star Hrithik Roshan for the aerial actioner.

In a recent interview, Siddharth spoke about Hrithik and Deepika’s characters in the film.“With Hrithik, this is my third film — Bang Bang and War had really different characters. Rajveer and Kabir are two different people and personalities, completely opposite. And Patty, the character he’s playing in Fighter, he has made it his own. He’s like a chameleon, he just adapts and becomes that character for that one year (when he’s shooting the film),” the director told India Today.

Talking about his experience of working with the actor Siddharth said, “He can bring certain genuineness to the character that can last over a franchise. It’s not just made up for that moment, he becomes that person. Patty is really something Hrithik has really worked hard on, different from Kabir and Rajveer. It is really exciting to see him transform like that. It is like a dream for a director to have an actor who submits himself to that film for so long. He is a joy.”

Shedding light on Deepika’s character, the Bachna Ae Haseeno director said, “My female characters are really strong and very exciting. Deepika is also playing an Air Force officer (in Fighter). She’s part of the elite unit of the Air Force, and it’s based on a lot of reality and authenticity. Something that Deepika has also bitten into. It is something that she’s not played before. And honestly, it’s a lot like her in real life, the character that she’s playing. She’s so much fun on set and she’s translating that character to be a real good takkar to Hrithik’s character, so it is very exciting.”

Both Deepika Padukone and Hrithik Roshan have previously collaborated with Siddharth Anand. While Hrithik has worked with him on two movies (Bang Bang and War), Siddharth directed Deepika in Ranbir Kapoor-starrer Bachna Ae Haseeno. Fighter also stars Anil Kapoor. It will be released in theatres on January 25, 2024.