A zombie thriller is about to become Bollywood’s expensive solo project. Shooting begins in September, with a major schedule planned in Australia. At the center of it all is Ranveer Singh, already deep in prep for the role.
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A film that has been in the works quietly for months is now moving toward an actual shoot date. Ranveer Singh-starrer zombie thriller ‘Pralay’, directed by Jai Mehta, is gearing up to begin production in September 2026, with a major chunk of filming planned in Australia.
According to a source who spoke to Pinkvilla, Ranveer has already started preparing for the role, well ahead of the shoot. The actor, currently 41, is said to be deeply involved in shaping the project alongside the director and writing team.
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“Ranveer will begin shooting for Jai Mehta’s directorial in the second half of 2026. A significant portion of the film will be shot in Australia, and he has already kick started prep,” the source said. They added that given the scale of the project and its genre, the role calls for both physical and emotional preparation, the kind that does not happen overnight.
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The film is currently in its pre-production phase, and a large part of that work is happening overseas. Jai Mehta and his team have been working closely with technicians in Australia, several of whom have prior experience on international productions.
Choosing Australia as a primary shooting location signals the scale the makers are aiming for. Zombie thrillers, especially ones with heavy visual effects, often require specific terrain, controlled environments, and technical crews experienced with large scale survival genre filmmaking, all of which seem to be shaping this decision.
The source also mentioned that Ranveer has been working closely with both the director and the writers as the story comes together. The film is likely to be heavily reliant on visual effects, and the team is reportedly still fine tuning the screenplay, the visual style, broader zombie universe the story will exist in.
Pralay carries an estimated budget of around Rs 300 crore, a number that would make it the most expensive standalone film in Ranveer Singh’s career so far.
Jai Mehta has not directed a film before this, which makes Ranveer’s apparent confidence in the project notable.
While the makers have not made an official announcement yet, reports suggest Kalyani Priyadarshan is expected to play the female lead, marking her debut in Hindi cinema if the casting is confirmed.
The story itself is set in a post-apocalyptic version of Mumbai, following a married couple trying to survive in a city that has fallen into chaos.
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