Report: Ranveer Singh helm ‘Pralay’ may lose first mover advantage as Kartik Aaryan’s zombie thriller targets early 2027 release – Report

After the massive success of Dhurandhar, Ranveer Singh is gearing up for another ambitious project, Pralay, a zombie thriller that could become one of Bollywood’s biggest experiments in the horror genre. However, before the film hits theatres, it may already face stiff competition from Kartik Aaryan, who is also all set to headline a zombie-based entertainer under director Vishnuvardhan.

With several zombie projects now in development, Bollywood seems ready to embrace the 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 introduce the zombie spectacle on a large scale to the audience, a Deccan Chronicle report suggests that Kartik Aaryan’s untitled film is moving much faster. The project, directed by Vishnuvardhan, is expected to go on floors next month, with the team eyeing an early 2027 release.In contrast, ‘Pralay’ is expected to release only at the end of next year, making its theatrical release significantly later. Industry insiders also believe that Kartik’s film has another advantage: a relatively controlled budget. Ranveer Singh’s “Pralay”, which was shot on a much larger scale, carries a much higher production cost, raising questions about its commercial prospects.

Ranveer Singh stars in the ambitious zombie thriller

‘Pralay’ is said to be directed by debutant Jay Mehta, son of director Hansal Mehta, and is based on Nobel Prize-winning Portuguese author José Saramago’s novel ‘Blindness’. The film features Ranveer Singh in the role of a crusader fighting a devastating zombie outbreak and is positioned as one of the most ambitious horror projects in Bollywood.Ranveer is not alone in exploring the undead. Tiger Shroff is also set to appear in Ahmed Khan’s untitled zombie comedy, while Telugu blockbuster ‘Zombie Reddy’ returns with a sequel starring Teja Saga and Shanaya Kapoor.

How India slowly discovered zombie stories

Although 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 mainstream attempts was the 2013 comedy Go Goa Gone produced by Raj & DK, starring Saif Ali Khan, Kunal Kemmu and Vir Das. Although the film received mixed reactions during its theatrical release, it gradually built a loyal fan base over the years.Reflecting on the film, Raj Nidimoru shared in the above-mentioned post: “We wanted to do something that doesn’t exist in India.

We had just finished “Shore in the City” and wanted to make something completely different. The idea was also to reflect the lives of zombies who live a zombie-like life in an exaggerated way. As the dialogue says, “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 Go Goa Gone to remain as it is.”

“Betaal” tried to expand the genre

The zombie genre returned in 2020 with Netflix’s Betaal, directed by Nikhil Mahajan and produced by Shah Rukh Khan’s Red Chillies Entertainment.

The series revolves around a military unit that accidentally awakens undead British soldiers. While its concept and production design were appreciated, many critics felt that it failed to deliver true 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 mainstream Indian popular culture. “But young viewers regularly consume Korean and Western content, so I’m optimistic that the time is finally right.”

Can Bollywood make zombie films mainstream?

South Korean productions such as “Train to Busan,” “The Peninsula,” “The Kingdom,” and “We Are All Dead” have redefined zombie storytelling by combining horror, emotional narrative, and social themes. Indian filmmakers are now hoping to achieve similar progress.Raj Nidimoru believes audiences are ready, provided the filmmakers deliver world-class performances. “Since Go Goa Gone, audiences have watched a lot of international content. If we were making zombie movies today, they would have to match the production quality of Hollywood and South Korean cinema. That’s the real challenge.”Mahajan echoed this sentiment, saying, “Audience is gradually warming up to zombie stories.

When big stars support these films, they naturally reach a much wider audience. “This is exactly the support this species needs.”With Ranveer Singh’s Pralay, Kartik Aaryan’s upcoming zombie thriller, Tiger Shroff’s horror comedy and Zombie Reddy sequel all in the pipeline, perhaps the era of zombies in Bollywood is finally taking shape. The biggest question now is which film will become the biggest blockbuster in the genre.