Kirti Kulhari Chakor Ban Villain Role Rakesh Sain

Kirti Kulhari plays the lead antagonist in Rakesh Sain’s debut thriller Chakor Ban.

The Searing Shift

Can you really trust the person who spent a decade earning your sympathy?

Kirti Kulhari has built a career on being the character you root for. Whether she was seeking justice in Pink or navigating the messy heartbreaks of Four More Shots Please!, she has always been the “reliable” one.

But in her upcoming film Chakor Ban, Kirti is reportedly set to burn that bridge. For the first time, she is stepping into the shoes of the lead antagonist, a “layered and challenging” role that marks a sharp departure from her positive track record.

The Raghavan Pedigree: Enter Rakesh Sain

While the title Chakor Ban is already turning heads, the real intrigue lies behind the camera. Debutante director Rakesh Sain isn’t exactly a newcomer; he’s a veteran of the “dark side” of Bollywood.

Having spent twenty years as a lieutenant to Sriram Raghavan—the man who gave us Andhadhun and Badlapur—Sain has effectively been in a two-decade-long masterclass on how to build tension.

If Chakor Ban inherits even a fraction of the Raghavan DNA, audiences should expect a thriller that is less about jump scares and more about psychological suffocation.

Sain has already proven his solo capability with the segment Nano So Phobia, but this full-length feature is his chance to define his own voice in the industry.

The Kintsukuroi Evolution: Producing Her Own Path

Kirti isn’t just waiting for scripts to land on her desk anymore. With her production house, Kintsukuroi Films, she is actively shaping the kind of cinema she wants to see. Her debut production, Kinare, has finished filming and is currently in post-production.

It’s a bold move that aligns with her transition in Chakor Ban—she is no longer just a piece of the puzzle; she is the one holding the box.

The Power of the “Clean” Antagonist

Most analysts miss why Kirti’s casting is a stroke of genius. In T20 cricket or cinema, the most dangerous element is the one you don’t see coming. Because Kirti has spent years playing “good” women, the audience has a built-in psychological trust with her face.

When an actor with that level of “moral equity” turns villainous, it creates a visceral sense of unease that a career villain simply cannot replicate.

Don’t Look for a “Reason”

• The “Grey” Trap: In modern thrillers, everyone wants a “tragic backstory” to justify the villain. The best Sriram Raghavan-style movies often feature people who are just inherently opportunistic. Don’t expect Kirti’s character to be “misunderstood”—expect her to be effective.
• Watch the Silence: If Sain follows his mentor’s style, Kirti’s most menacing moments won’t be in the dialogue; they will be in the background details of the scenes.
• The Production Pivot: Most actors produce to give themselves “hero” roles. Kirti is doing the opposite—she’s producing a film like Kinare to tell a specific story while taking on a “villain” role to stretch her acting muscles. This is how you avoid typecasting.

Key Takeaways:

• Kirti Kulhari will play the main antagonist in the upcoming thriller Chakor Ban.
• The film is directed by Rakesh Sain, a long-time associate of Sriram Raghavan.
• Kirti’s production debut, Kinare, is expected to hit theatres later in 2026.
• This marks a significant shift for Kirti following the end of Four More Shots Please! in late 2025.