Watch: Naam Shabana trailer is gritty and thrilling thanks to its in-form ensemble

Mumbai: The most heart-warming aspect of 'Naam Shabana' is this that despite of it boasting of such A-list Alpha names as Akshay Kumar, Prithviraj Sukumaran and Manoj Bajpayee in its cast credits, none of them play the lead.

The film, the second instalment in Neeraj Pandey's immensely popular 'Baby' franchise, has Taapsee Pannu reprise her extended cameo from the original into a full-fledged starring role as the eponymous spy.

The actress had won furiously positive reviews for her act in 'Baby,' and it was but a natural progression for her to have a film of her own.

And justify the decision she does.

'Naam Shabana,' a Shivam Nair directorial, has her ruthless police act touching new peaks, with the brand of filmmaking that one associates with Neeraj Pandey, to ably augment it.

The film has Prithviraj, returning to Bollywood after 'Aurangzeb,' playing a seemingly negative role.

But the most exciting of all is Akshay Kumar reprising his role as Ajay Singh Rajput from 'Baby,' in another extended cameo.

Manoy Bajpayee is very much in his deadpan elements, as the officer who overlooks the training and subsequent drafting of Shabana into the covert team.

The film also has Anupam Kher, Danny Denzongpa and Madhurima Tuli reprising their respective roles from 'Baby'.

Watch the trailer here: