Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], May 16 (ANI): At a time when the search for the next James Bond has intensified, filmmaker Shekhar Kapur has voted for his top choice after Hollywood's Daniel Craig.

Taking to his X handle, Shekhar Kapur shared that actor John Abraham would be perfect as the next 007.

'As the search of the next Bond heats up, my vote for the next James Bond after Daniel Craig would be John Abraham. He has the cool 'shaken not stirred' persona and certainly good actor with the 'Bond Charm',' he wrote.

https://x.com/shekharkapur/status/2055522417590833217

The filmmaker also noted, 'By the way Daniel Craig was cast as James Bond after the producers saw him in my film Elizabeth.'

Shekhar Kapur's tweet quickly caught the attention, including that of John Abraham himself.

Humbled by Kapur's appreciation, John replied, 'Thank you so much Sir @shekharkapur. Truly humbled by your words and encouragement. Coming from someone who not only redefined storytelling but also had the instinct to spot Daniel Craig before the world saw Bond in him... this means a lot to me.'

The actor playfully added, 'As for Bond... I'll happily start practising my martini order immediately. Shaken, not stirred.'

https://x.com/TheJohnAbraham/status/2055562072017318219

Meanwhile, the search for the next James Bond is officially underway.

Amazon MGM Studios has started auditioning actors to play the iconic British spy, with acclaimed casting director Nina Gold joining the process to help find Daniel Craig's successor.

Confirming the development, Amazon MGM Studios said in a statement, 'The search for the next James Bond is underway. While we don't plan to comment on specific details during the casting process, we're excited to share more news with 007 fans as soon as the time is right.'

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According to sources familiar with the production, auditions for the role of Ian Fleming's super-spy began in recent weeks. Gold, known for her work on major global franchises, has been enlisted to identify the actor who can bring both 'suaveness and danger' to the role of 007, as per Variety.

The upcoming 26th James Bond film will be directed by Denis Villeneuve, best known for the 'Dune' films, 'Arrival' and 'Sicario.'

The film is being produced by Amy Pascal of the 'Spider-Man' franchise and David Heyman, who produced the 'Harry Potter' series.

'Peaky Blinders' creator Steven Knight is writing the screenplay, while Tanya Lapointe is attached as executive producer. (ANI)