
ON GANDHI JAYANTI, ABBAS–MUSTAN REINTRODUCE THE ‘3 MONKEYS’ FOR 2026 WITH A GEN-Z TWIST — ‘SAB DEKHO. APNI SUNO. BEKHAUF BOLO.’
Arjun Rampal, Vishal Jethwa, Mustafa Burmawala and Tenzin Dalha starrer 3 Monkeys to release in cinemas worldwide on 4 December
Mumbai: This Gandhi Jayanti, filmmaker duo Abbas–Mustan have taken one of the most instantly recognisable ideas associated with Mahatma Gandhi the Three Wise Monkeys and given it a distinctly 2026 twist with the announcement of their upcoming quirky thriller, 3 Monkeys.Unveiled today through its first poster and motion poster, the campaign starts with the familiar three-monkey philosophy “Bura Mat Dekho, Bura Mat Suno, Bura Mat Bolo” before the world of 3 Monkeys takes over.
The old instruction is challenged. The monkeys change. And so does the message.
सब देखो. अपनी सुनो. बेख़ौफ़ बोलो.
Sab Dekho. Apni Suno. Bekhauf Bolo.
It is the film’s new-age interpretation of the three monkeys one that reflects the attitude, independence and fearlessness associated with today’s generation.
See everything. Listen to your own instinct. Speak without fear.
And who better to bring this thought into the world of a mischievous, unpredictable thriller than Abbas–Mustan, filmmakers whose cinema has, for decades, thrived on twists, deception, grey characters and the constant question of whom or what one should believe?
The motion poster initially introduces the iconic Three Wise Monkeys before giving way to the film’s very different trio: Amar, Akbar and Anthony.
Vishal Jethwa plays Amar, Mustafa Burmawala plays Akbar and Tenzin Dalha plays Anthony the new-age 3 Monkeys. Masked, armed and seemingly having far more fun than three men in the middle of something dangerous probably should, the trio immediately raises the question: what exactly are they up to?
A robbery? A meticulously planned heist? Mischief on an altogether different scale? Or is there something more behind those masks?
The announcement deliberately keeps the answer under wraps.
Adding another layer of mystery is Arjun Rampal as Sanjay.
His arrival changes the rhythm and the equation of the motion poster. Armed and formidable himself, Sanjay appears to share a connection with the three masked men, but the nature of that connection is deliberately kept under wraps.
Is he chasing the 3 Monkeys? Is he working with them? Or is there another game being played altogether? That uncertainty sets the tone for the Abbas–Mustan thriller.
Rather than presenting its protagonists as grim criminals, 3 Monkeys introduces Amar, Akbar and Anthony with an unmistakably youthful irreverence. There is danger in what they are doing, but there is also mischief, confidence and an almost audacious sense of fun creating a world that sits somewhere between heist, suspense, attitude and unpredictability.
The Gandhi Jayanti launch also marks the beginning of the film’s larger campaign. The familiar imagery of the Three Wise Monkeys becomes the foundation for a new 2026 code:
Bura Mat Dekho becomes — SAB DEKHO.
Bura Mat Suno becomes — APNI SUNO.
Bura Mat Bolo becomes — BEKHAUF BOLO.
The masks of the three protagonists will remain central to the film’s identity as the campaign unfolds, while the mystery surrounding Amar, Akbar, Anthony and Sanjay will gradually be revealed through the teaser and trailer.
With Abbas–Mustan returning to a world of intrigue, twists and deception, this time with a distinctly Gen-Z temperament, 3 Monkeys asks audiences to forget what they think they know about the three monkeys.
Because in 2026, they aren’t looking away. They aren’t simply listening. And they certainly aren’t staying quiet.
3 Monkeys, starring Arjun Rampal, Vishal Jethwa, Mustafa Burmawala, Tenzin Dalha and Mustafa Ali, is produced by Allarakha Vohra, Faruk Vohra and Sayeed Vohra, and presented by AJ Film Entertainment World. The film, directed by Abbas–Mustan, releases in cinemas worldwide on 4 December 2026.