'Border 2' actor Ahan Shetty says he was not allowed to sign films for 4 years after 'Tadap'; says, 'I was tied down'

Ahan Shetty's latest release, 'Border 2', is roaring at the box office. In the film the actor plays the role of Lt Cdr Mahendra Singh Rawat—an Indian Navy officer from the 14th Frigate Squadron (based on Captain Mahendra Nath Mulla, MVC). And now, in a recent interaction, the actor opened up about how the last Friday changed everything for him. Let's learn more about it.

Ahan Shetty reveals he was not allowed to sign films for 4 years

In an interview with the Mid-Day, Ahan Shetty revealed what happened after his debut film, 'Tadap'. The actor shared, "'Tadap' made Rs 40 crore at a time when films weren’t crossing Rs 10 crore. People said that the film did horribly in terms of numbers, but we made profit."

The actor acknowledged the fact that people had a lot of expectations from the film. He said, "After that, it was difficult. I was very low on confidence during that period. I was tied down to a contract with Nadiadwala Grandson Entertainment. So, I wasn’t allowed to sign any other movie for four years. A lot of offers came my way, but you can't [breach] a contract."

How did 'Border 2' happen for Ahan Shetty?

In the same interview, Ahan Shetty revealed that veteran filmmaker JP Dutta and his daughter, Nidhi Dutta, had come to their home for a dinner. The actor said that she asked him if he would like to come aboard for 'Border 2'. Ahan took the offer casually and replied that they will discuss the same when it happens.

The actor recalled Nidhi Dutta stating the sequel to the iconic war drama is "happening now." Ahan further shared, "For a couple of days, I was skeptical because I couldn’t believe they wanted me, a newcomer, to be a part of such a big film. I had not been able to do anything for four years and was fighting certain battles in my own head. So, being a part of the film means a lot to me."

More about 'Border 2'

Directed by Anurag Singh, the film stars Sunny Deol, Varun Dhawan, Diljit Dosanjh, and Ahan Shetty. The movie also features Mona Singh, Medha Rana, Sonam Bajwa, and Anya Singh in pivotal roles.

As of now, according to the Sacnilk report, the film has raked in over Rs 220 crore at the box office in India. The movie was released in theaters on January 23, 2026.Get the latest entertainment updates from the Times of India, along with the latest Hindi movies, upcoming Hindi movies in 2026 , and Telugu movies.”