After the massive success of ‘Dhurandhar’, Ranveer Singh is gearing up for another ambitious project, ‘Pralay’, a zombie thriller that could turn out to be one of Bollywood’s biggest experiments in the horror genre. However, before the film hits theaters, it may already be facing stiff competition Kartik Aaryawho will also be helming a zombie-based entertainer under director Vishnuvardhan. With several zombie projects in development, Bollywood seems ready to embrace a genre that has long flourished in Hollywood and South Korea.
Kartik Aaryan’s zombie film may beat ‘Pralay’ in theatres
While the makers of ‘Pralay’ were hoping to present a large-scale zombie show to the audience, a report in Deccan Chronicle suggests that Kartik Aaryan’s untitled film is moving much faster. Helmed by Vishnuvardhan, the project is expected to go on floors next month, with the team eyeing an early 2027 launch.Instead, ‘Pralay’ is expected to wrap production only by the end of next year, making its theatrical release significantly later. Industry insiders also believe that Kartik’s film enjoys another advantage: a comparatively controlled budget. Ranveer Singh’s ‘Pralay’, mounted on a much larger scale, carries a substantially higher production cost, raising questions about its commercial prospects.
Ranveer Singh leads an ambitious zombie thriller
Directed by debutant Jai Mehta, son of filmmaker Hansal Mehta, ‘Pralay’ is said to be inspired by Nobel Prize-winning Portuguese author José Saramago’s novel ‘Blindness’. The film features Ranveer Singh as a crusader fighting against a devastating zombie outbreak and is shaping up to be one of Bollywood’s most ambitious horror projects.Ranveer is not alone in exploring the undead. Tiger Shroff will also feature in Ahmed Khan’s untitled zombie comedy, while Telugu blockbuster ‘Zombie Reddy’ will return with a sequel starring Teja Sajja and Shanaya Kapoor.
How India slowly discovered zombie stories
While zombies have been a staple of Korean and Hollywood entertainment for years, Indian cinema has only occasionally experimented with the genre.One of the first major attempts was Raj & DK’s 2013 cult comedy ‘Go Goa Gone’ starring Saif Ali Khan, Kunal Kemmu and Vir Das. Although the film received a mixed response during its theatrical run, it went on to build a loyal fan base over the years.Reflecting on the film, Raj Nidimoru shared with the aforementioned publication, “We wanted to do something that didn’t exist in India. We had just finished ‘Shor in the City’ and wanted to do something completely different. The idea was also to reflect the life of drifters living a zombie-like existence in an exaggerated way. As the dialogue goes, “India mein bhoot pishach hote hain, yeh zombie kahan se aaye?” We wanted to make a zombie movie for beginners. Today, people ask us about a sequel, but we prefer to let ‘Go Goa Gone’ remain what it is.”
‘Betaal’ tried to expand the genre
The zombie genre made a comeback in 2020 with Netflix’s ‘Betaal’, directed by Nikhil Mahajan and produced by Shah Rukh Khan’s Red Chillies Entertainment. The series revolved around an army unit that accidentally awakens undead British soldiers. Although its concept and production design received praise, many critics felt that it fell short in delivering genuine horror.Speaking about directing the series, Mahajan said, “Patrick Graham’s vision and writing were so strong that saying yes was a no-brainer. The biggest challenge wasn’t making zombies. It was the audience’s unfamiliarity with the genre. Zombies have never been a part of Indian popular culture. But younger viewers regularly consume Korean and Western content, so I’m optimistic that the time is finally here.”
Can Bollywood make zombie movies mainstream?
South Korean productions like ‘Train to Busan’, ‘Peninsula’, ‘Kingdom’ and ‘All of Us Are Dead’ have redefined zombie storytelling by combining horror with emotional narratives and social themes. Indian filmmakers are now hoping to achieve a similar breakthrough.Raj Nidimoru believes that the audience is ready, as long as the filmmakers deliver world-class execution. “Since ‘Go Goa Gone,’ audiences have seen a lot of international content. If we make zombie movies today, they have to match the production quality of Hollywood and South Korean cinema. That’s the real challenge.”Mahajan echoed the sentiment, saying, “Audiences are gradually warming up to zombie stories. When top stars support these films, they naturally reach a much wider audience. This is exactly the boost the genre needs.”With Ranveer Singh’s ‘Pralay’, Kartik Aaryan’s upcoming zombie thriller, Tiger Shroff’s horror-comedy and the sequel to ‘Zombie Reddy’ all in the pipeline, Bollywood’s zombie era may finally be taking shape. The biggest question now is which film will become the defining blockbuster of the genre.