Ranveer Singh is giving audiences their first real glimpse of his next big-screen transformation, and it looks far removed from the polished image of a conventional Bollywood hero. Pictures and a video from the Mumbai sets of Pralay have surfaced online, showing Singh in a rugged avatar with longer hair and stubble as he films alongside Kalyani Priyadarshan. The setting around him looks dusty and battered, with abandoned vehicles and muddy roads adding to the film’s post-apocalyptic atmosphere. The footage has quickly become a talking point because Pralay is Singh’s first major project after the success of the Dhurandhar franchise and takes him into an entirely different genre.
The leaked set material also offers a small but intriguing glimpse at the story’s scale. In one sequence, Singh is seen carrying a child on his back while moving through the devastated-looking environment, with Priyadarshan walking nearby. The footage does not reveal the full context of the scene, but it suggests that the film’s survival story may have a strong human element running alongside its action and dystopian setting. Pralay officially went on floors in Mumbai in August, with the makers positioning it as an ambitious survival drama directed by Jai Mehta.
Ranveer Singh Gets a Rugged New Avatar
The biggest talking point from the newly circulating visuals is Singh’s appearance. The actor can be seen with considerably longer hair and facial stubble, giving him a weathered look that fits the harsh world being created for Pralay. Rather than appearing like a traditional action star entering a battle sequence, Singh looks like someone who has spent considerable time surviving in a world that has already fallen apart. That distinction could become important to the film because its reported premise revolves around survival rather than simply spectacle.
The Mumbai set has been designed to reinforce that atmosphere. Muddy roads, damaged surroundings and abandoned cars create the impression of a city that has gone through a major collapse, matching the post-apocalyptic world associated with the project. The footage also shows Singh walking through the environment with other people before the child-carrying sequence, although the available clips do not reveal what happens immediately before or after the scene. For now, the visuals are offering atmosphere rather than giving away the larger plot.
Singh’s transformation is particularly interesting because it follows his work in the Dhurandhar franchise, where his appearance and physicality became an important part of the character he played. Pralay appears to be taking him in another direction, with the rugged styling and survival setting suggesting a character who is defined by endurance rather than swagger. That change should make the film an interesting test for Singh as he moves between very different cinematic worlds.
Kalyani Priyadarshan Joins the Survival Story
Alongside Singh, the newly surfaced footage gives attention to Kalyani Priyadarshan, who is making her Hindi-film debut with Pralay. The Malayalam actor became widely recognised after Lokah Chapter 1: Chandra, and her casting opposite Singh has been one of the more closely watched aspects of the project. She has already signalled her commitment to the film, sharing her excitement when production began in August. Her Instagram comment at the time read, “Time to go make a film that we’re all going to be so proud of.”
Priyadarshan’s presence in the Mumbai footage makes the pairing feel more tangible now that filming is underway. While the leaked material does not explain the relationship between her character and Singh’s, the two are seen moving through the same devastated environment, suggesting that their characters are connected to the central survival narrative. The film is expected to place the pair within a much larger crisis, although the makers have kept several story details under wraps. That secrecy is likely to continue until the first official promotional material arrives.
There is also an interesting production story behind Priyadarshan joining the project. Earlier reports said Singh personally played a role in convincing her to come on board, particularly after her success in Malayalam cinema. Her decision adds another layer of interest to Pralay, because the project is not simply Singh’s next action film; it also introduces a major South Indian talent to a Hindi audience.
What We Know About Pralay So Far
Directed by Jai Mehta, Pralay is being mounted as a large-scale survival thriller with a post-apocalyptic setting. Mehta previously worked on projects including Lootere and Scam 1992: The Harshad Mehta Story, making the jump into a VFX-heavy survival film a notable change in scale. Earlier reporting has described the story as being set in a devastated Mumbai after a pandemic and zombie outbreak, although the makers have not publicly revealed the complete plot. The film is also expected to involve extensive visual effects and international production work.
The production has been building quietly for several months. Before shooting began, Singh was seen keeping his appearance concealed during a visit to Hansal Mehta’s office, which added to speculation about how he would look in the film. Production eventually began in Mumbai in August, with additional schedules expected as the project progresses. Earlier reports have also pointed to a substantial Australia schedule, although the complete shooting calendar has not been publicly detailed by the makers.
The film is also significant for Singh away from his acting role. He is among the producers backing Pralay, making the project an important step in his move further into filmmaking and production. Current industry listings credit Singh alongside Ananya Birla, Hansal Mehta and Sahil Saigal as producers, while Jai Mehta is attached as director. The project is currently listed for a 2027 release, although a final theatrical date has not been announced.
That combination of scale, genre and Singh’s involvement makes Pralay one of the more unusual projects on his upcoming slate. The actor is coming off the hugely successful Dhurandhar films, but instead of immediately repeating that formula, he has chosen a survival story built around a very different world. If the set footage is any indication, the film intends to make its Mumbai setting feel damaged, dangerous and unfamiliar.
Why Pralay Has Become One of Ranveer’s Most Interesting Films
The curiosity around Pralay is not only about Singh’s new look. The project brings together an actor coming off a major commercial run, a filmmaker moving into a considerably larger canvas and Priyadarshan making her Hindi debut. Its post-apocalyptic setting also gives Hindi cinema an opportunity to explore a genre that has traditionally been less common in mainstream Bollywood. Variety India described the film as an ambitious survival drama and noted that its story revolves around humanity fighting to survive after the world collapses.
The reported production scale adds to those expectations. Earlier reports have placed the estimated budget at around Rs 300 crore, which would make Pralay one of Singh’s biggest standalone productions and a substantial gamble for a film outside the conventional action formula. A project at that scale will need its world-building, visual effects and survival elements to feel convincing rather than simply expensive. That is why the early set imagery matters: it gives viewers their first hint of whether the film is actually building a lived-in post-apocalyptic environment.
For Singh, the film also arrives at an important point in his career. After the massive response to Dhurandhar and Dhurandhar: The Revenge, expectations around his next move are naturally high, but Pralay offers him the chance to show a different side of his screen presence. The rugged styling, bleak surroundings and apparent focus on survival already separate it visually from his recent work. Now the challenge will be turning that promising first glimpse into a complete cinematic world when the film eventually reaches theatres.
Pralay Q&A
What is Pralay about?
Pralay is being described as a post-apocalyptic survival thriller directed by Jai Mehta. Reports have linked the story to a devastated Mumbai and a deadly outbreak that pushes its characters into a fight for survival. The makers have kept the complete storyline under wraps, so the exact details of the characters and outbreak remain limited. The newly surfaced set footage confirms the film’s bleak visual setting but does not reveal the full plot.
Who stars in Pralay?
Ranveer Singh and Kalyani Priyadarshan are the principal stars of Pralay. Priyadarshan is making her Hindi-film debut with the project after gaining attention in Malayalam cinema. Singh is also producing the film alongside his acting role.
Who is directing Pralay?
Jai Mehta is directing Pralay. He previously worked on Lootere and was involved with Scam 1992: The Harshad Mehta Story. The project represents a significantly larger and more ambitious production scale for the filmmaker.
Why is Ranveer Singh’s Pralay look trending?
The actor has been spotted with longer hair and stubble while filming in a dusty, damaged-looking Mumbai environment. The rugged appearance is noticeably different from his recent Dhurandhar presentation and fits the film’s survival setting. A video also shows him carrying a child on his back during a scene with Kalyani Priyadarshan nearby.
Is Kalyani Priyadarshan making her Bollywood debut with Pralay?
Yes. Priyadarshan is making her Hindi-film debut with Pralay after establishing herself in Malayalam cinema. She has already shared her excitement about working on the project and has been filming in Mumbai alongside Singh.
When will Pralay release?
Pralay is currently listed for a 2027 release, but the makers have not announced a final theatrical date. The film is still in production, with its Mumbai schedule underway and further shooting expected.
