After ‘Dhurandhar’, Ranveer Singh takes on zombies in Rs 300 crore survival thriller ‘Pralay’

Fresh off the success of ‘Dhurandhar’, Ranveer Singh is preparing to begin work on his next big-screen outing, the much-anticipated zombie survival thriller ‘Pralay’. After months of speculation surrounding the project, the film is now expected to commence production in September 2026, marking the actor's foray into a genre that remains largely unexplored in mainstream Hindi cinema.

Directed by debutant Jai Mehta, son of filmmaker Hansal Mehta, ‘Pralay’ is being envisioned as a large-scale post-apocalyptic survival drama. While the makers are yet to officially unveil the cast and production details, multiple reports suggest the film has entered the final stages of pre-production, with Singh already immersed in preparations.

Rs 300 crore zombie survival epic

Reports indicate that ‘Pralay’ is being mounted on an estimated budget of Rs 300 crore, making it Ranveer Singh's costliest standalone film to date. The production is expected to rely extensively on visual effects, with an international technical crew reportedly joining the project to build its expansive zombie universe.

According to Pinkvilla, a substantial portion of the film is planned to be shot in Australia, although the final shooting schedule is still being worked out. Singh has already begun preparing for the physically and emotionally demanding role and has reportedly been working closely with Jai Mehta and the writing team as they continue refining the screenplay, world-building and visual treatment.

The screenplay has been penned by Jai Mehta along with Vishal Kapoor, who is known for his work on ‘Lootere’.

Hansal Mehta on the film's ambition

Speaking to Variety India, Hansal Mehta described the scale and uniqueness of the project while expressing confidence in his son's directorial debut.

"It's the kind of film that India hasn't made yet, the kind of film that India hasn't seen before."

Industry reports suggest Ranveer agreed to headline the film after being impressed by Jai Mehta's vision and the strength of the script, despite the filmmaker making his feature directorial debut.

Story and casting buzz

Set in a dystopian, post-apocalyptic Mumbai, ‘Pralay’ is expected to follow the story of a married couple struggling to survive amid a zombie outbreak.

Although the makers have not officially announced the cast, reports indicate that Kalyani Priyadarshan has been signed to play the female lead opposite Ranveer Singh. If confirmed, the project would mark her Bollywood debut following the success of Lokah Chapter 1: Chandra.

Ranveer is also expected to sport an entirely new look for the survival thriller as he ventures into one of Bollywood's rare zombie-based narratives.

FWICE controversy

The film's production timeline also coincides with Ranveer Singh's recent dispute with the Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE).

On May 25, 2026, the federation issued a non-cooperation directive against the actor following his exit from ‘Don 3’. The move reportedly came after filmmaker Farhan Akhtar approached the body over Singh's withdrawal from the project.

However, the matter has since been resolved. FWICE later withdrew the non-cooperation directive after Ranveer Singh served a legal notice on the organisation, clearing the way for his upcoming projects, including ‘Pralay’.