After the blockbuster Dhurandhar duology, Ranveer Singh has quickly moved on to his next ambitious film, Pralay, which officially begins production today. The survival spectacle is directed by Jai Mehta and is being filmed at live locations in and around Mumbai.
On paper, Pralay appears to be a much bigger risk than a conventional Ranveer Singh film. Reports suggest the project has a budget of around Rs. 300 crore, making it one of the actor’s most ambitious ventures.
The film also features Kalyani Priyadarshan in a pivotal role. While she has earned recognition for her performances, she is still relatively new to the Hindi film market and is yet to establish major box office pull.
The production is backed by Birla Studios, True Story Films and Maa Kasam Films. Compared to some of the biggest Hindi film banners, this combination does not yet have a long track record of delivering major theatrical blockbusters.
Another major factor is the genre itself. Zombie and survival films remain a relatively unexplored space in mainstream Hindi cinema. The genre is yet to prove its full commercial potential at the Indian box office.
As a result, Pralay could become an important test case for the industry. Its performance may indicate whether audiences are ready to embrace a large-scale survival thriller with zombie elements.
Ranveer Singh remains the film’s biggest strength. The success of Dhurandhar and Dhurandhar: The Revenge has significantly boosted his market value. Even so, whether his star power alone can justify a Rs. 300 crore investment remains a key question.
At the same time, choosing an unconventional project after a successful franchise could benefit Ranveer creatively. If Pralay delivers a compelling survival experience with strong execution, it could become one of the most significant films of his career.
