Vinay Pathak Reveals How Neeraj Pandey Almost Killed His Special Ops Character

Vinay Pathak, a stalwart of Indian cinema, recently shared a hilarious and surprising story about his role as Sub-Inspector Abbas Sheikh in the popular espionage series Special Ops. During the trailer launch of Special Ops 2, Vinay opened up about how close his character came to being written off early on — and how a last-minute decision saved him.

Asked what makes Abbas Sheikh such an iconic and beloved character, Vinay chuckled, “I have been directed by my seniors that I should speak too much, so I won’t reveal much. But honestly, the question is complicated, and even I don’t fully know the answer. Special Ops has been with me for so long — it started even before COVID-19 — and sometimes it feels like it’s been part of my childhood.”

He went on to recount how he first got involved with the project: “Shivam called me and asked if I wanted to work with him. I said yes. When I met him, he gave me the script to read, and I realized I was getting an opportunity to work with Neeraj Pandey for the first time. Naturally, I was thrilled and accepted immediately.”

The real kicker came when Vinay revealed a little-known fact: “About a week later, I got a call from Neeraj Pandey himself. Not many people know this, but he asked me if he should kill Abbas in the very first season. So technically, Neeraj gave me the gift of life — meaning I’m still alive in the series even after three seasons! The funny part is, I still have the same costume and get no promotion. Abbas is just running around on his bike in Delhi. So as long as Neeraj keeps the fuel in the tank, I’ll keep riding that bike!”

Vinay’s candid and witty reflections give fans a delightful behind-the-scenes glimpse into the making of Special Ops and the unexpected twists that shape the characters they love.

The series also features a credible cast with Kay Kay Menon, Tahir Raj Bhasin, Prakash Raj, Karan Tacker, Saiyami Kher, Muzammil Ibrahim, Gautami Kapoor, Parmeet Sethi, and Kali Prasad Mukherjee, and more.

Special Ops 2 is set to premiere on JioHotstar on July 11.