A grand treat for Telugu cinema and web series fans, especially Samantha Ruth Prabhu fans! The trailer of the Indian spy action thriller web series ‘Citadel: Honey Bunny’, created by the famous director duo Raj & DK, was released on October 15, 2024. The series stars Samantha Ruth Prabhu and Varun Dhawan in the lead roles, while Kay Kay Menon, Simran, Saqib Saleem, Sikander Kher and others will be seen in supporting roles. The series, which will be streaming on Amazon Prime Video from November 7, 2024, is part of the global ‘Citadel’ universe. Let’s see the trailer highlights, series details, and fan responses in this article!
About ‘Citadel: Honey Bunny’
‘Citadel: Honey Bunny’ is a Hindi spy action thriller that is an Indian spin-off/prequel to the American series ‘Citadel’. The series is written by Raj & DK and Seetha R. Menon and directed by Raj & DK. Produced by D2R Films, Amazon MGM Studios, and Russo Brothers AGBO, the series will be streaming on Amazon Prime Video in 240 countries on November 7, 2024 with 6 episodes. The series is available in Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam, and English for Prime members.
The series is set in 1990s Bombay, across two timelines (1992 and 2000). Rahi Gambhir alias Bunny (Varun Dhawan), a Bollywood stuntman, works as a secret spy. He recruits struggling actress Honey Mandaki alias Honey (Samantha) for a side gig. The mission takes them into a dangerous world of action, espionage, and betrayal. Years later, with their pasts haunting them, Honey and Bunny reunite to save their daughter Nadia (Kashvi Majmundar). The story revolves around the high-stakes drama between Guru alias Baba (Kay Kay Menon), his gang, and the Citadel agents.
The series follows the parents of Nadia Sinh (Priyanka Chopra) in ‘Citadel’. The trailer suggests that the series will be captivating with a 1990s retro vibe, Bollywood elements, Raj & DK’s signature humor, and high-octane action.
Trailer Highlights
The trailer of ‘Citadel: Honey Bunny’ was released on October 15, 2024, and the second trailer was released on October 29, 2024. The second trailer, with a runtime of 2:23 minutes, impressed with Samantha and Varun Dhawan’s chemistry and high-intensity action sequences. Samantha is seen transforming into a struggling actress as Honey, then into a James Bond-style spy. Varun Dhawan mesmerizes in his dual role as Bunny, a stuntman and a spy. The song “Aaj Ki Raat” (Don, 2006) is played in the background in the trailer, adding to the retro nostalgia of the 90s.
Cinematography by Johann Heurlin Eydt brings the 1990s Bombay and Belgrade locations to life, while Aman Pant’s background score adds a thrilling vibe to the trailer. The trailer features Raj & DK’s signature humor, twists, and emotional drama. The link between Honey and Bunny’s daughter Nadia’s name and Priyanka Chopra’s character in ‘Citadel’ is an Easter egg in the trailer. Packed with action, romance, betrayal, and family drama, the trailer has raised the expectations for the series to skyrocket.
Technical Highlights
Directorship: Raj & DK have proven their mettle in the spy thriller genre with series like ‘The Family Man’ and ‘Farzy’. In ‘Citadel: Honey Bunny’, they have made the global spy drama attractive with their signature humor, twists and Indian touch.
Cinematography: Johann Heurlin Aidt has visually captured the locations of 1990s Bombay and Serbia. Retro color tones and action sequences have given the series a grand look.
Music: Aman Pant’s background score elevates the thrill in the trailer. 90s Bollywood songs and original tracks are expected to add nostalgia to the series.
Production: The series is produced by Russo Brothers AGBO and Amazon MGM Studios with high production values. The shooting in India and Serbia has given the series a global appeal.
Samantha, Varun Dhawan Performance
Samantha (Honey): Samantha made a solid debut in OTT with ‘The Family Man 2’. Her action sequences and emotional depth in ‘Citadel: Honey Bunny’ are the highlight of the trailer. Samantha said at a promotional event, “I never thought I could do action. Being in this series feels like an achievement to me.”
Varun Dhawan (Bunny): Bollywood star Varun Dhawan is making his OTT debut with this series. His cool swag and action skills in stuntman and spy roles are impressive in the trailer.
Kay Kay Menon (Baba): The trailer suggests that senior actor Kay Kay Menon will give an intense performance in the role of Guru/Baba, but some have said in reviews that his role is underdeveloped.
Series Expectations
‘Citadel: Honey Bunny’ is a part of the global ‘Citadel’ universe, set to bring a global spy thriller with a local flavour to the Indian audience. Raj & DK had a successful run in the spy genre with the series ‘The Family Man’, but some reviews mentioned that the series lacked cohesion and was slow-paced. However, Samantha and Varun Dhawan’s performances, the 90s retro vibe, and the action sequences made the series attractive. Reviews said that the last 20 minutes of action sequence in Rajmahal was the highlight of the series.
However, it was announced in April 2025 that the series was cancelled after one season and that some of the storylines would be integrated into ‘Citadel’ season 2. While this may have disappointed some fans, Samantha and Varun's chemistry, Raj & DK's vision made the series worth watching.
Conclusion
The trailer of 'Citadel: Honey Bunny' gave a visual treat to spy thriller lovers with Samantha and Varun Dhawan's performance, Raj & DK's stylish take, and a 1990s retro vibe. The series, which is streaming on Amazon Prime Video on November 7, 2024, impresses with its high-stakes action, romance, and family drama. Available in multiple languages, including Telugu dubbing, the series adds an Indian touch to the global 'Citadel' universe. Don't miss this series for Samantha's action avatar, Varun's spy swag, and Raj & DK's humor!