Ranveer Singh has started filming his next big project Pralay, a post-apocalyptic survival thriller that also marks the beginning of a new chapter for Ananya Birla’s production company, Birla Studios. The film went on floors in Mumbai on August 16, 2026. Produced by Birla Studios along with Hansal Mehta and Sahil Saigal’s True Story Films and Singh’s own Maa Kasam Films, the project is the first major theatrical release from the newly launched studio. For a company that started operations earlier this year, choosing a large-scale original survival thriller as its debut production is a move that shows clear ambition and a willingness to take risks.
An Original Story with Massive Scale
The film is not based on any existing book, comic, or franchise. It is an original story set in a dystopian Mumbai devastated by a deadly outbreak. The plot follows a married couple fighting to survive as the city falls into chaos. Instead of choosing a safer option like a remake or a sequel, Birla Studios decided to back a fresh concept that demands significant world-building. This choice shows the studio’s focus on creating new cinematic experiences rather than relying on familiar properties.
The production team spent several months in pre-production, working on the technical aspects of the film. The crew includes talent from India and other countries, bringing an international touch to the project. The makers are shooting at live locations across Mumbai instead of relying completely on studio sets, which adds a layer of realism to the post-apocalyptic setting.
Jai Mehta Makes His Feature Directorial Debut
One of the most notable choices surrounding Pralay is the director. Jai Mehta, who previously co-directed the critically acclaimed series Scam 1992: The Harshad Mehta Story and directed Lootere, is making his feature film debut with this project. Giving a first-time feature director a film of this magnitude is a bold decision. It suggests that Birla Studios is not just building the film around its leading star but also around the filmmaker’s vision.
Jai Mehta has worked with his father Hansal Mehta on previous projects, but Pralay marks his first solo feature film. The director is known for his work on complex narratives, and this project represents a major step up in scale for him. The decision to trust a relatively new director with such a costly production shows that Birla Studios is willing to bet on fresh talent.
Kalyani Priyadarshan Makes Her Bollywood Debut
Pralay also brings Kalyani Priyadarshan into Bollywood. The Malayalam actor, who gained recognition for her performance in Lokah Chapter One: Chandra, stars opposite Ranveer Singh in a pivotal role. This marks her first Hindi film. The casting brings together Singh’s established box office pull with Priyadarshan’s growing popularity in the South Indian film industry.
For Birla Studios, choosing a fresh face for the female lead rather than an established Bollywood actress is another sign of their approach to discovering new talent. The studio appears to be focused on building new combinations rather than relying on tried-and-tested pairings.
Ranveer Singh Takes on a New Role as Producer
Beyond starring in the film, Ranveer Singh is also serving as a producer through his banner Maa Kasam Films. This is his first project as a producer. The actor has taken on a physically demanding role in the film. The project follows the massive success of the Dhurandhar duology, which became the first Indian film franchise to cross Rs 3,000 crore worldwide.
Singh’s involvement as a producer shows his personal investment in the project. The actor reportedly approached Jai Mehta after being impressed by his work. This suggests that the film is being built around creative collaboration rather than just commercial calculations.
The Reported Budget and Scale
According to multiple reports, Pralay is being made on a budget of approximately Rs 300 crore. This places it among the most expensive standalone films of Singh’s career. The budget reflects the scale of the production, which involves extensive visual effects, international crew members, and live location shooting.
The film is being described as a zombie survival thriller set against the backdrop of a global catastrophe. While the makers have not released an official plot summary, reports suggest the story involves a deadly pandemic that turns Mumbai into a devastated zone. The genre itself is relatively unexplored in Indian cinema, adding another layer of risk to the project.
Ananya Birla’s Vision for Birla Studios
Ananya Birla launched Birla Studios earlier this year with a stated focus on high-concept, prestige-driven commercial cinema. She has spoken about discovering new talent, experimenting with genres, and creating space for fresh voices. Pralay brings several of those ideas together.
When the film went on floors, Ananya shared a message that did not focus primarily on the film’s scale. Instead, she spoke about why she believed in the story and the people making it. She wrote:
We have incredible faith in the story of Pralay and to see it go to floors today fills me with a lot of joy. Thank you to everyone who trusted Birla Studios with this project.
Her focus on the story and the team rather than just the budget or star power shows the studio’s long-term approach. For a new production company, backing an original, large-scale film with a debut director is a significant financial and creative gamble.
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What Makes This a Significant First Bet
For Birla Studios, Pralay is not just another film. It is the first major theatrical project that will define what the company stands for. The decision to produce an original post-apocalyptic thriller rather than a safer commercial project is a clear statement of intent.
Bollywood has many filmmakers with unconventional ideas and actors willing to experiment. What is harder to find is the willingness to put significant money and scale behind those ideas before they have been proven at the box office. Ananya’s decision to make Pralay one of the studio’s first major releases is noteworthy because it involves a large-scale production and an international creative effort.
The film is currently shooting in Mumbai, with the release date yet to be announced. For now, the cameras are rolling on what could be one of the most ambitious projects to come out of Indian cinema in recent years.
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