Arjun Rampal is about to enter a very different kind of high-stakes world. After making an impact with Dhurandhar, the actor is preparing to play a powerful business magnate in Billionaire, Amazon MX Player’s upcoming original series, which is set to begin filming in November.
The series was announced earlier this year with Rampal in the lead and filmmakers Hansal Mehta and Robbie Grewal attached to direct. It follows the rise of a businessman who builds an enormous empire of wealth and influence while operating in an India undergoing rapid change. The bigger question, however, is what happens when the ambition that helped create that empire starts destroying the life surrounding it.
Billionaire is drawing attention because its central character takes inspiration from businessman Vijay Mallya. However, producer Prabhleen Sandhu has made it clear that audiences should not approach the show as a straight account of Mallya’s life. She previously described the series as “loosely based” on him but “not exactly about him.”
Rampal Steps Into a Fictional Business Empire
The November filming schedule takes Billionaire from announcement to production, although the makers are still keeping several important details closely guarded. The wider cast has not been revealed, and Amazon MX Player has yet to announce a release date for the series.
The character Rampal plays is being presented as a businessman who refuses to follow established rules while building an empire driven by money, influence and ambition. His success initially appears to be the result of an extraordinary ability to understand power and opportunity, but the story is designed to explore the personal and professional consequences of that pursuit.
That makes the Vijay Mallya connection particularly interesting without turning the series into a conventional biographical drama. Mallya’s public career has long been associated with luxury, business expansion, celebrity and controversy, giving the creators a recognizable starting point for a fictional story about wealth and influence. Sandhu’s earlier clarification suggests that the show will use those broad ideas while creating its own character and narrative rather than reproducing the life of one real person.
The series was first announced in March as part of Amazon MX Player’s original programming plans. At the time, the platform described the story as one about ambition, power and the price of success, while Rampal said he was excited to take on a role that did not come along every day.
Hansal Mehta and Robbie Grewal Lead the Series
The creative team behind Billionaire gives the project another reason to watch. Hansal Mehta and Robbie Grewal are directing the series, with Anubhav Chopra and Shantanu Sagara credited as writers. Prabhleen Sandhu is producing through Almighty Motion Picture.
Mehta’s involvement is especially notable because the filmmaker has repeatedly explored stories involving ambition, institutions, crime, money and people caught in morally complicated situations. His previous work includes the Scam franchise, while Grewal recently worked with Sandhu on Made In India – A Titan Story. The combination suggests that Billionaire could lean toward character and consequence rather than functioning simply as a glossy portrait of extreme wealth.
The series also arrives at an important moment for Amazon MX Player as the platform continues expanding its original programming. The service announced Billionaire during the Amazon Ads event in March, positioning it as part of a broader push toward original stories with established filmmakers and recognizable actors.
For Rampal, meanwhile, the role continues a recent run of larger-than-life characters. His appearance in Dhurandhar gave the actor a prominent role in one of the year’s major Hindi film conversations, and Billionaire moves him into a completely different environment where boardrooms, business decisions and personal power are likely to replace the action-heavy world of his previous project.
What We Know About Billionaire So Far
Rampal has already spoken about the preparation involved in taking on the role. After the show’s announcement, he said, “Playing a role like this is definitely not something that comes your way every day, and when it does, you grab it with both hands, feet, and whatever you’ve got.”
That statement gives a sense of how seriously the actor is approaching the character, particularly because the central figure is expected to carry much of the series. Rather than simply playing a wealthy businessman, Rampal will be portraying someone whose hunger for greater influence becomes increasingly difficult to separate from his personal identity.
The production is now moving toward its November schedule, but Amazon MX Player has not yet revealed how many episodes the first season will contain or when viewers can expect it to premiere. The supporting cast is also being kept under wraps, meaning the next round of announcements could significantly expand the picture around Rampal’s character.
For now, the most interesting element is the distinction between inspiration and biography. Billionaire may borrow certain broad ideas associated with Mallya’s public image, but the makers are deliberately creating a fictional story about what happens when the pursuit of power becomes bigger than the person pursuing it.
With filming approaching, Rampal at the centre and Mehta and Grewal behind the camera, Billionaire has the ingredients for a corporate drama that could be as much about the cost of success as the glamour of having it.
Billionaire Series: 6 Key Questions
Is Billionaire based on Vijay Mallya?
The series is loosely based on Vijay Mallya, according to producer Prabhleen Sandhu, but she has specifically clarified that it is “not exactly about him.” The central character is therefore being treated as a fictional business magnate rather than a direct portrayal of Mallya.
When will Billionaire start filming?
Billionaire is scheduled to go on floors in November 2026. The November schedule marks the project’s transition into production following its announcement earlier this year.
Who plays the lead in Billionaire?
Arjun Rampal headlines the series as a powerful businessman whose ambition drives him to build an influential business empire. The role follows his recent appearance in Dhurandhar.
Who is directing Billionaire?
Hansal Mehta and Robbie Grewal are attached as directors. The series is written by Anubhav Chopra and Shantanu Sagara and produced by Prabhleen Sandhu under Almighty Motion Picture.
Where will Billionaire stream?
The series is being made for Amazon MX Player as part of the platform’s original programming slate. A specific release date has not yet been announced.
What is Billionaire about?
The series follows a powerful businessman who builds an empire around wealth, influence and ambition. As his success grows, the same drive that helped him reach the top begins to affect his personal and professional life, turning the story into a drama about the cost of power.
