John Abraham is Shekhar Kapur's pick for next James Bond
Synopsis
Shekhar Kapur — the director who reportedly helped Daniel Craig land the Bond role via Elizabeth (1998) — has now cast his vote for John Abraham as 007’s next avatar, arguing the Bollywood action star’s cool, understated persona is tailor-made for the franchise. It is a rare, credible Indian entry into a casting debate that has so far been almost exclusively Western.
Key Takeaways
Filmmaker Shekhar Kapur publicly nominated John Abraham as the next James Bond after Daniel Craig via a post on X .
Kapur cited Abraham’s ‘shaken not stirred’ persona and action-film credentials — including Dhoom , Force , and Pathaan — as key qualifications.
Kapur claims Eon Productions cast Daniel Craig as Bond after watching his performance in Kapur’s Elizabeth (1998) .
The James Bond franchise spans 27 films across more than six decades, with 7 actors having played the role.
No official successor to Craig has been announced by Eon Productions or Amazon MGM Studios .
Acclaimed filmmaker Shekhar Kapur has publicly backed John Abraham as the ideal successor to Daniel Craig in the iconic role of James Bond, citing the Bollywood action star's cool demeanour and proven screen presence as key credentials for the part.
What Kapur Said
Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Kapur wrote: “As the search of the next Bond heats up, my vote for the next James Bond after Daniel Craig would be John Abraham. He has the cool ‘shaken not stirred’ persona and certainly good actor with the ‘Bond Charm’ By the way Daniel Craig was cast as James Bond after the producers saw him in my film Elizabeth (sic).”
The filmmaker’s endorsement carries a notable backstory: Kapur claims that Eon Productions cast Daniel Craig as Bond after watching his performance in Elizabeth (1998), which Kapur directed. That film is widely credited with reviving Craig’s international profile ahead of his Casino Royale debut in 2006.
Why John Abraham Fits the Frame
Abraham has carved out a distinct space in Hindi cinema’s action genre, with high-octane outings in Dhoom, Force, and Pathaan. Kapur argues that beyond physicality, it is Abraham’s understated, ‘shaken not stirred’ screen persona — a phrase synonymous with Bond’s signature cocktail order — that sets him apart from other candidates.
Notably, the search for a new Bond has been a subject of global speculation ever since Craig’s final outing in No Time to Die (2021). Several names from Hollywood and beyond have been floated, though Eon Productions and Amazon MGM Studios have not officially confirmed a successor.
The James Bond Legacy
The James Bond franchise, rooted in Ian Fleming’s novels, spans 27 films in total. The first instalment, Dr. No (1962), directed by Terence Young, introduced Sean Connery to the role. Eon Productions has since produced 25 official entries, with two non-Eon productions — Casino Royale (1967) and Never Say Never Again (1983) — sitting outside the main series.
Actors who have played Bond across the decades include Sean Connery (1962–1967, 1971, 1983), David Niven (1967), George Lazenby (1969), Roger Moore (1973–1985), Timothy Dalton (1987–1989), Pierce Brosnan (1995–2002), and Daniel Craig (2006–2021).
What Comes Next
With no official announcement from the producers, the casting conversation remains open. Kapur’s public endorsement adds an Indian voice — and a credible one, given his Bond-adjacent history — to a debate that has so far centred almost entirely on Western actors. Whether Abraham’s name reaches the producers’ shortlist remains to be seen.
Point of View
Now under Amazon MGM’s ownership, has any appetite for a non-Western lead — a structural barrier that no amount of ‘Bond Charm’ alone can dissolve. Abraham is a credible physical and screen fit, but the franchise has never cast outside a narrow Western archetype. Kapur’s tweet may be the opening move in a longer cultural conversation about what Bond looks like in a post-Craig, post-Craig era.
NationPress
3 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Shekhar Kapur’s pick for the next James Bond?
Filmmaker Shekhar Kapur has named John Abraham as his choice for the next James Bond after Daniel Craig, citing Abraham’s cool screen persona and strong action-film track record in films such as Dhoom , Force , and Pathaan .
Why does Shekhar Kapur’s Bond opinion carry weight?
Kapur directed Elizabeth (1998), in which Daniel Craig appeared. Kapur claims Eon Productions cast Craig as Bond after seeing that performance, giving him a credible, first-hand connection to the franchise’s casting history.
Has a new James Bond been officially announced?
No. As of the date of this report, neither Eon Productions nor Amazon MGM Studios — which now co-owns the franchise — has officially named a successor to Daniel Craig, whose final Bond film was No Time to Die in 2021.
How many actors have played James Bond and in how many films?
Seven actors have played Bond across 27 films since 1962: Sean Connery, David Niven, George Lazenby, Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton, Pierce Brosnan, and Daniel Craig. Eon Productions has produced 25 of those films officially.
What is the significance of the phrase ‘shaken not stirred’ in this context?
It is Bond’s iconic instruction for his martini and a cultural shorthand for the character’s suave, unflappable style. Kapur used it to describe John Abraham’s on-screen demeanour as a natural fit for the role.
