Saqib Ayub on Chaar Yaar: car chases, heists and playing an 'ordinary Bombay boy'
Synopsis
Saqib Ayub says playing Tony in 'Chaar Yaar' — a Mumbai crime drama premiering on Prime Video on 23 October 2026 — gave him his first crack at an 'ordinary Bombay boy' role after years of flamboyant characters. With high-speed car chases, a period early-2000s setting, and an ensemble that includes Chunky Panday and Sikandar Kher, the show is one of the more ambitious OTT crime dramas of the season.
Key Takeaways
Saqib Ayub plays Tony in 'Chaar Yaar' , a Mumbai-set crime drama premiering on Prime Video on 23 October 2026 .
Ayub described the show as a departure from his previous roles, featuring large-scale car chases and high-speed action sequences.
The series is set in Mumbai in the early 2000s , following four friends — Jay, Tony, Saahil, and Sameer — drawn into a world of crime and heists.
The ensemble cast includes Purav Jha , Naman Jain , Prayrak Mehta , Sai Tamhankar , Sikandar Kher , Chunky Panday , and others.
The series is directed by Vinay Waikul , developed by BBC Studios India , and produced under Pink Window Production Pvt.
Actor Saqib Ayub has opened up about his experience shooting the upcoming crime drama series 'Chaar Yaar', set to premiere on Prime Video on 23 October 2026. The actor, who plays a character named Tony, said the show introduced him to a distinctly different register of action — one built around high-speed car chases, large-scale sequences, and relentless pacing.
A New Kind of Action for Saqib Ayub
Ayub, previously seen in 'Farzi', 'Bambai Meri Jaan', and 'Undekhi', said that despite his experience with stunts, 'Chaar Yaar' pushed him into unfamiliar territory. 'I've done plenty of action and stunts before in 'Farzi', 'Bambai Meri Jaan', and 'Undekhi', but 'Chaar Yaar' brought a different kind of energy, with its car chases, large-scale sequences, and fast-paced action. Getting into Tony's skin and figuring out his mannerisms was equally enjoyable,' he said.
The actor added that Tony holds a special place for him personally: 'Tony will always be special, as he gave me a chance to play an ordinary Bombay boy after mostly playing flamboyant characters in the past.' He also acknowledged the show's directors and producers — Vinay Waikul and producer Mukesh — for casting him in the role.
What 'Chaar Yaar' Is About
Set in Mumbai in the early 2000s, the series follows four friends — Jay, Tony, Saahil, and Sameer — whose shared ambitions propel them beyond their middle-class beginnings and into a dangerous world of crime, gangsters, and high-stakes heists. The show blends slapstick humour with thriller elements, promising an unpredictable ride through the city's criminal underbelly.
Directed by Vinay Waikul and written by Sambit Mishra and Saurabh Sawant, the series is produced by Pranati Nagarsheth, Niraj Nagarsheth, and P.S. Shyam under Pink Window Production Pvt. Ltd., and developed by BBC Studios India.
A Star-Studded Ensemble Cast
Beyond Ayub, the series stars Purav Jha, Naman Jain, and Prayrak Mehta in lead roles, supported by Sai Tamhankar, Sikandar Kher, Dibyendu Bhattacharya, Rajesh Tailang, Chunky Panday, and Bhagavathi Perumal in pivotal parts.
Purav Jha, known for his digital content work and his appearance on The Traitors, described 'Chaar Yaar' as a personal milestone. 'After years of creating content, 'Chaar Yaar' feels like a special milestone for me, especially after The Traitors. It's my first major release as an actor, something I've always wanted to do,' he said, adding that action training for the role pushed him into unfamiliar physical territory.
Premiere Date and Platform
'Chaar Yaar' is scheduled to stream exclusively on Prime Video from 23 October 2026. With its Mumbai backdrop, period setting, and genre-mixing ambition, the series arrives at a moment when OTT audiences have shown strong appetite for crime dramas rooted in authentic urban settings. Whether it can carve out its own identity in an increasingly crowded streaming landscape remains to be seen.
Point of View
And its early-2000s Mumbai setting is a differentiator that could work in its favour — nostalgia has done well for Indian OTT in recent cycles. Saqib Ayub's pivot to an understated 'ordinary Bombay boy' is a genuine creative risk after the heightened roles that made his name. The real question is whether the show's blend of slapstick humour and high-stakes heist thriller coheres — a tonal tightrope that Indian streaming series have stumbled on before. Purav Jha's crossover from content creation to lead actor adds an interesting viewership variable: his existing digital fanbase could drive opening-weekend numbers that don't reflect long-term critical reception.
NationPress
16 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
When does 'Chaar Yaar' release and where can I watch it?
'Chaar Yaar' premieres on 23 October 2026, exclusively on Prime Video. The series is a high-stakes crime drama set in Mumbai in the early 2000s.
Who is in the cast of 'Chaar Yaar'?
The lead cast includes Saqib Ayub, Purav Jha, Naman Jain, and Prayrak Mehta. Supporting roles are played by Sai Tamhankar, Sikandar Kher, Dibyendu Bhattacharya, Rajesh Tailang, Chunky Panday, and Bhagavathi Perumal.
What is 'Chaar Yaar' about?
'Chaar Yaar' follows four friends — Jay, Tony, Saahil, and Sameer — in early-2000s Mumbai whose ambitions pull them into a dangerous world of crime, gangsters, and heists. The show blends slapstick humour with thriller elements and high-speed car chases.
Who directed 'Chaar Yaar' and who produced it?
The series is directed by Vinay Waikul and written by Sambit Mishra and Saurabh Sawant. It is produced by Pranati Nagarsheth, Niraj Nagarsheth, and P.S. Shyam under Pink Window Production Pvt. Ltd., and developed by BBC Studios India.
What did Saqib Ayub say about playing Tony in 'Chaar Yaar'?
Saqib Ayub said Tony was special because it let him play an 'ordinary Bombay boy' — a departure from the flamboyant characters he has portrayed in series like 'Farzi' and 'Bambai Meri Jaan'. He also highlighted the physical demands of the role, including car chases and never-ending night shifts during the shoot.
