Ranveer Singh has officially stepped into a very different cinematic world. Pralay, the ambitious survival thriller directed by Jai Mehta, has begun filming in Mumbai, putting one of the most closely watched Hindi genre projects of the moment into production. The film brings Singh together with Lokah breakout Kalyani Priyadarshan and is being mounted by Birla Studios, True Story Films and Maa Kasam Films.
The Mumbai schedule marks Singh’s return to a film set after his work on Dhurandhar — The Revenge. More importantly, Pralay represents a sharp change in direction for an actor who has recently been associated with large-scale action spectacles. The new film is built around a world facing catastrophic collapse, with survival becoming the central battle as the characters fight to stay alive.
Jai Mehta, who co-directed Scam 1992: The Harshad Mehta Story with Hansal Mehta and later helmed Lootere, is taking on a much larger canvas with the project. The film has reportedly been in intensive pre-production for months, with its production team preparing the technical and physical demands of a story set against an end-of-the-world scenario.
A New World For Ranveer Singh
What makes Pralay particularly interesting is the scale of the genre gamble. The makers are positioning it as a survival story set during a catastrophic event, while earlier industry reports have described the project as a post-apocalyptic zombie thriller. That combination gives the film a very different identity from the conventional action dramas that dominate mainstream Hindi cinema.
The production is also expected to rely heavily on visual effects, action design and physical locations to create its collapsing world. Earlier reports estimated a budget of around ₹300 crore, although the material currently available does not establish an official final production budget from the makers. The scale of the reported investment explains why the project spent months in preparation before cameras finally started rolling.
Singh is not simply leading the film either. He is also involved as a producer through Maa Kasam Films, giving him a more direct stake in the project’s creative and production ambitions. For an actor coming off the success of the Dhurandhar franchise, Pralay offers an opportunity to take that momentum into territory that is less familiar to Hindi cinema.
The choice of Mumbai as the starting point adds another layer to the concept. Rather than relying entirely on constructed environments, the production is using live locations in and around the city, allowing the filmmakers to bring real streets and recognizable surroundings into a story where normal life has broken down. That approach could give the film a more immediate sense of realism once the catastrophe begins to unfold.
Kalyani Priyadarshan Joins The Survival Story
Kalyani Priyadarshan is one of the biggest reasons the casting has attracted attention. Fresh from the success of Lokah: Chapter 1, the actor steps into a major Hindi project opposite Singh, creating a new pairing that audiences have not seen before. Her role is described as pivotal to the story, although the makers have yet to reveal extensive character details.
Kalyani has already reacted positively to the beginning of production, expressing her excitement about making a film she believes the team can be proud of. Her arrival also gives Pralay a chance to bring a performer who has recently generated strong attention in Malayalam cinema into a large-scale Hindi production.
Behind the camera, Mehta is working with writer Vishal Kapoor, who has also been associated with Lootere. Earlier reporting described the screenplay as an original story rather than an adaptation of José Saramago’s Blindness, clearing up speculation that had surrounded the project during its development. Hansal Mehta previously said the story was written by Jai Mehta and Vishal Kapoor rather than being an adaptation.
That distinction matters because Pralay is being developed as an original Indian genre property rather than a direct transfer of an established international story. The filmmakers therefore have considerable freedom to build their own rules, characters and visual identity around the survival premise. If the execution matches the scale being promised, the film could become an important experiment for Hindi cinema’s growing interest in ambitious genre filmmaking.
Why Pralay Could Be A Major Hindi Experiment
Indian cinema has produced horror, zombie stories, dystopian concepts and survival dramas before, but large-scale mainstream Hindi films have rarely combined those ingredients at this level. Pralay is attempting to turn an apocalyptic premise into a theatrical spectacle while keeping the human struggle at its centre. That balance will probably determine whether the film becomes more than an expensive effects-driven action movie.
The project has also had an unusually long development period. Earlier reports in April said the script had been locked and that the production had moved into pre-production after speculation about creative differences between Singh and Mehta was dismissed by a source close to the film. The subsequent start of filming in Mumbai confirms that the project moved forward rather than remaining stuck in development.
For Birla Studios, Pralay is an important first step into film production under Ananya Birla. The studio is partnering with Hansal Mehta’s True Story Films and Singh’s Maa Kasam Films, bringing together producers with very different backgrounds but a shared interest in a project that aims to challenge conventional Hindi-film formulas.
The film’s next stages will be closely watched because the production has already gone through changes in its reported schedule and locations. Earlier reports had linked parts of the shoot to Australia, while the current production has begun in Mumbai.
At this point, there is no confirmed release date to discuss, so the immediate focus remains on the filming schedule and the eventual first look. With Singh leading, Kalyani joining the cast and Mehta attempting his biggest cinematic canvas yet, Pralay has plenty of ingredients to become one of the more distinctive Hindi projects in development. The real test will come when the first footage reveals how convincingly this end-of-the-world vision has been brought to life.
Pralay: 6 Questions Readers Are Asking
When did Ranveer Singh start shooting Pralay?
Ranveer Singh began filming Pralay in Mumbai on August 16, 2026. The start of production follows months of reported preparation for the technically demanding project.
Who is directing Pralay?
Pralay is directed by Jai Mehta, known for his work on Scam 1992: The Harshad Mehta Story and Lootere. Vishal Kapoor has also been involved in writing the screenplay.
Who stars opposite Ranveer Singh in Pralay?
Kalyani Priyadarshan plays a pivotal role in the film. The project marks a major Hindi-cinema collaboration for the actor following her recent success with Lokah: Chapter 1.
What is Pralay about?
The film is set against an end-of-the-world catastrophe and focuses on humanity’s struggle for survival. Industry reports have also described it as a post-apocalyptic zombie thriller.
Is Pralay based on Blindness?
No. Hansal Mehta previously clarified that Pralay is not an adaptation of José Saramago’s Blindness. The original story has been written by Jai Mehta and Vishal Kapoor.
Who is producing Pralay?
The film is being produced by Birla Studios, True Story Films and Ranveer Singh’s Maa Kasam Films. Earlier reports have also linked Applause Entertainment to the project.
