Ranveer Singh has officially started filming for his next big project, a post-apocalyptic thriller titled ‘Pralay’ . The movie, which also marks his debut as a producer, went on floors in Mumbai on August 16, 2026. Joining him in the lead role is Malayalam actress Kalyani Priyadarshan, who is making her Hindi film debut with this project.
The film is directed by Jai Mehta, the son of filmmaker Hansal Mehta, and is backed by a strong production team including Ananya Birla’s Birla Studios, Hansal Mehta and Sahil Saigal’s True Story Films, and Ranveer Singh’s own banner, Maa Kasam Films. The project had been in technical pre-production for several months before the cameras finally started rolling.
The Film Goes on Floors in Mumbai
The shooting of ‘Pralay’ began in Mumbai with the team currently filming at live locations across the city. The makers have chosen to shoot in real environments to bring added scale, texture, and realism to the story. Earlier reports had suggested that the film would be shot extensively in Australia. However, the production schedule was later shifted to Mumbai.
According to an India Today report, the change in location was linked to Ranveer Singh’s decision to remain close to his wife, Deepika Padukone, as they prepare to welcome their second child. The report stated that Ranveer did not want to spend an extended period away from Deepika during this time.
The film is being shot at live locations in and around Mumbai, which adds a layer of authenticity to the post-apocalyptic setting.
Kalyani Priyadarshan Joins Ranveer Singh
Kalyani Priyadarshan, who gained recognition for her performance in ‘Lokah Chapter One: Chandra’ (2025), has been confirmed as the female lead opposite Ranveer Singh. This project marks her entry into Hindi cinema.
The pairing of Ranveer Singh and Kalyani Priyadarshan is a fresh combination, bringing together a Bollywood superstar and a talented actress from the Malayalam film industry. Kalyani is the daughter of renowned filmmaker Priyadarshan and has been building her career in South Indian cinema.
Jai Mehta Takes the Director’s Chair
Jai Mehta, who previously co-directed the critically acclaimed series ‘Scam 1992: The Harshad Mehta Story’ and directed ‘Lootere’, is making his feature film directorial debut with ‘Pralay’. He is the son of filmmaker Hansal Mehta, who is also one of the producers on the project.
Hansal Mehta spoke about how the project came together. He shared that Jai had been working on the idea for a long time. When Ranveer saw Jai’s directorial work, he was impressed. Jai then pitched the idea to Ranveer, who liked it. Hansal added that they invested in developing the idea and helping Jai create the world he wants to present in the film.
“It’s a post-apocalyptic world that hasn’t been attempted before at this scale in India. Development is not just about writing. It also includes ideas—how you shape them, how you visualise them, and how you eventually sell them to a third party, to a star or a studio. We’ve invested in building those ideas. It’s not an adaptation. Jay and Vishal Kapoor have written the original story.”
What ‘Pralay’ Is About
‘Pralay’ is described as a post-apocalyptic zombie thriller set in a dystopian Mumbai ravaged by a deadly outbreak. The story follows a married couple as they fight to survive in a city overrun by chaos. At its heart, the film is a survival story that explores courage and the instinct to protect what matters most when the world begins to collapse.
The film is being positioned as a large-scale theatrical action thriller. It combines spectacle with an emotional story centred on human survival. The makers have kept the plot details closely guarded, but the setting in Mumbai is expected to play a key role in the film’s tension and atmosphere.
Ranveer Singh Turns Producer
Apart from playing the lead role, Ranveer Singh is also taking on the responsibility of co-producing the film. This marks his first project as a producer. His production banner, Maa Kasam Films, is one of the co-producers alongside Birla Studios and True Story Films.
This move gives Ranveer a creative stake in a film that is being positioned as an ambitious theatrical action thriller. It also marks a major shift in direction for the actor following the success of the ‘Dhurandhar’ franchise, taking him into the world of large-scale survival drama and post-apocalyptic storytelling.
A Big-Budget Affair
‘Pralay’ is reportedly being made on a budget of around Rs 300 crore. If the reported figure is accurate, it would place the film among the most expensive standalone films of Ranveer Singh’s career. The project brings together local and international talent as the makers build the film’s ambitious world.
For Ananya Birla’s Birla Studios, ‘Pralay’ represents an early major feature production. For True Story Films, led by Hansal Mehta and Sahil Saigal, the film fits the banner’s focus on unconventional storytelling. Hansal Mehta had previously told Variety, “It’s the kind of film that India hasn’t made yet, the kind of film that India hasn’t seen before”.
Related:
Ranveer’s Next Big Project After ‘Dhurandhar’
‘Pralay’ comes after the huge success of Ranveer Singh’s recent releases, ‘Dhurandhar’ (2025) and its sequel ‘Dhurandhar: The Revenge’ (2026). Both films, directed by Aditya Dhar, broke box office records. ‘Dhurandhar The Revenge’ reportedly crossed Rs 1,800 crore at the worldwide box office.
After the success of these two films, ‘Pralay’ is Ranveer’s next biggest theatrical project. The film gives the actor another physically demanding role after his recent run of large-scale action cinema. The film’s release date has not been announced yet, but it is expected to hit the screens in 2027.
The team is currently shooting the first schedule in Mumbai, and the project is one of the most talked-about films coming out of Indian cinema.
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