Vikramaditya Motwane’s Black Warrant, starring Zahaan Kapoor, got rave reviews upon its release. While the second season shoot was all set to roll this month, it has hit a roadblock due to creative rift among makers
Zahan Kapoor (R) in ‘Black Warrant’
Ten days into 2025, filmmaker Vikramaditya Motwane had a hit in the bag as his Black Warrant opened to wide praise. Promptly the second season of the crime drama, led by Zahan Kapoor, was announced in February, with production slated to begin in September. But now that September is coming to a close, things are looking very different. The buzz is that the project has been deferred indefinitely following creative differences between creator Motwane and Netflix India, which streamed the series.
From what we’ve heard, the first few episodes are the point of contention. A source told mid-day, “Netflix wants the second season to be more accessible, with a faster hook and more punch. Vikram feels the show must retain the grit that made the opening edition stand out. As per the initial plan, the shoot was to begin by October, but the heads at the streamer have refused to give a go-ahead unless they are satisfied with the rewrites.”
Vikramaditya Motwane. Pic/Shadab Khan
Talks have been ongoing for several weeks, but insiders said that no middle ground has been reached. Motwane, who also co-directed the first instalment, is certain about adhering to his vision for the series that delves into the functioning of Tihar Jail in the 1980s from the perspective of one of its officers. An actor involved with the show, on condition of anonymity, said, “Neither side is willing to compromise. We were to begin table reads around this time, but I have been asked to release my dates now. That means the show is on hold for now.”
Complicating matters further is Motwane’s schedule. The filmmaker has a biopic on former Indian cricket captain Sourav Ganguly and a web series in the pipeline. He was to wrap up Black Warrant 2 by the year-end before moving on to the biopic. “If this window is lost, he cannot return to the project for at least a year,” added a member of the crew.
Meanwhile, a Netflix insider indicated that the platform’s priority is to get a wider audience base for Black Warrant 2. “The first season won critical acclaim, but was not widely watched. We are trying to change that because the show has great direction, good actors, and a hard-hitting story,” said the insider, conceding that the ongoing uncertainty could affect cast schedules and budgets. “The drafts will require some rewriting, but the show is happening from our end. That said, if things don’t progress swiftly, it risks losing the buzz generated by the opening season.”
mid-day reached out to Motwane and Netflix India. Both didn’t respond till press time.
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