Ranveer Singh Zombie Thriller Pralay Begins Shooting in September

Anirudh Jain - Kolkata Bureau Jun 30, 2026 1,300 Views

Ranveer Singh’s upcoming ₹300 crore zombie thriller Pralay, directed by Jai Mehta, is officially scheduled to begin shooting in September 2026. Featuring a major filming schedule in Australia, the visual effects-heavy survival drama co-stars Kalyani Priyadarshan and marks the debut production of Singh's independent banner, Ma Kasam Films.

MUMBAI — Actor Ranveer Singh is officially set to begin principal photography for his highly anticipated post-apocalyptic zombie thriller, Pralay, in September 2026. Directed by filmmaker Jai Mehta, the project represents a significant financial and creative expansion for the Hindi film industry, with a major international production schedule heavily concentrated across various locations in Australia. The high-budget endeavor comes closely on the heels of Singh's recent box office success in the espionage action feature Dhurandhar, signaling a distinct genre shift into survival horror for the leading man.

Big-Budget Production Logistics and Australian Locations

The upcoming feature is being mounted on an estimated production budget of 3 billion Indian rupees (approximately ₹300 crore), positioning it as the most expensive standalone film project of Ranveer Singh’s professional career. According to production data obtained by media tracking agencies, pre-production assemblies have already been fully activated in Australia. The choice of location is highly strategic; the film’s creative pipeline requires deep collaboration with international VFX supervisors and technical crews who have previously engineered major global Hollywood genre films.

While the core narrative of Pralay is conceptually set against the backdrop of a dystopian, pandemic-ravaged Mumbai, the production design team aims to utilize specialized Australian studio sets and controlled open-air terrains to simulate a completely abandoned, decaying cityscape. Through complex visual effects pipelines, large sections of Mumbai's iconic architecture will be digitally aged and modified to portray a "Hunger Games" style landscape, showcasing a society entirely upended by an aggressive zombie outbreak.

Creative Collaborations and Global Distribution Infrastructure

The cinematic project marks several institutional milestones within the Indian entertainment sector. Pralay serves as the inaugural production venture under Ranveer Singh's newly launched independent banner, Ma Kasam Films, in a joint production alliance with veteran filmmaker Hansal Mehta, Sameer Nair, and Applause Entertainment. Furthermore, the film marks the official Bollywood debut of prominent Malayalam cinema actress Kalyani Priyadarshan, who has been cast in the leading female role opposite Singh.

For theatrical distribution syndicates, multiplex chains, and international over-the-top (OTT) streaming networks, Pralay represents a high-stakes test of India's capacity to deliver localized premium sci-fi horror. Historically, the Indian box office has relied heavily on imported Hollywood productions for apocalyptic content. Industry analysts note that committing a 3 billion rupee budget to an original homegrown zombie universe demonstrates growing investor confidence in advanced domestic and global theatrical distribution networks.

Quote Section

"According to officials close to the creative development desk, the film demands extensive physical as well as emotional preparation from the lead cast. The director and writing teams are constantly refining the screenplay, visual language, and the larger zombie universe to ensure international standards."

Why It Matters

For cinema consumers, trade investors, and visual effects professionals, the execution of Pralay signals an important evolution in how Indian cinema handles technical production. Shifting large filming schedules to international hubs like Australia allows domestic studios to directly acquire advanced filmmaking techniques, specialized stunts, and sophisticated prosthetic workflows. If commercially successful, this framework opens new monetization avenues for Indian intellectual properties across non-traditional global markets.

Key Facts at a Glance

Timeline Lock: Principal photography for Pralay is officially scheduled to commence in September 2026.
Financial Scale: Budgeted at ₹300 crore, making it the most expensive standalone film led by Ranveer Singh.
International Hub: A substantial portion of the survival drama will be shot across specialized facilities in Australia.
Fresh Pairing: Features Malayalam star Kalyani Priyadarshan making her formal Hindi cinematic debut.

FAQ Section

Q1: Is the movie Pralay an official remake of any international film? A: No. Executive producer Hansal Mehta has formally clarified through industry media channels that Pralay is an entirely original story and is not based on the film Blindness or any other pre-existing international property.

Q2: What is the central plot of Ranveer Singh's new film? A: The narrative explores a dystopian, post-apocalyptic world following a dual crisis of a global pandemic and a fictional zombie outbreak, focusing on a married couple fighting for survival in a ruined Mumbai landscape.

Q3: Which production houses are backing this ₹300 crore project? A: The film is co-produced by Ranveer Singh’s independent banner Ma Kasam Films, alongside industry veterans Hansal Mehta and Sameer Nair.