'Shanghai', which also stars Emraan Hashmi as the lead protagonist, features Abhay in a new light altogether. In the film, Abhay plays an IAS officer who is a 40 year old South Indian and finds himself pushed and pulled by various forces while following his call of duty.

"To play a 40 year old IAS officer in a film like 'Shanghai' which is not routine cinema would be exciting for any actor; the same holds good for me too", says Abhay who hasn't shied away from experimentation in the past as well, "The other day I was watching TV and saw Justice Hegde there. I just exclaimed that this was actually my character in 'Shanghai'. Though I can't reveal much about what does my character do in the film, I can tell you that I am part of an enquiry and making a report that has a potential to unveil quite a few stunning secrets."

With Kalki Koechelin as the leading lady and Emraan Hashmi playing a street smart young man, 'Shanghai' is about a common man's endeavour to move from being a part of a third world country to someone who belongs to the first world. Directed by Dibakar Banerjee, the film is being planned for 26th January release.