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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 reaches theatres, it may already face stiff competition from Kartik Aaryan , who is also set to headline a zombie-based entertainer under director Vishnuvardhan. With multiple zombie projects now in development, Bollywood appears ready to embrace a genre that has long flourished in Hollywood and South Korea.

Kartik Aaryan's zombie film may beat 'Pralay' to theatresWhile the makers of 'Pralay' hoped to introduce audiences to a large-scale zombie spectacle, a Deccan Chronicle report suggests Kartik Aaryan's untitled film is moving much faster. Directed by Vishnuvardhan, the project is expected to go on floors next month, with the team eyeing an early 2027 release.

In contrast, 'Pralay' is reportedly expected to wrap production only towards the end of next year, making its theatrical release significantly later. Industry insiders also believe Kartik's film enjoys another advantage: a comparatively controlled budget. Ranveer Singh's 'Pralay', mounted on a much grander scale, carries a substantially higher production cost, raising questions about its commercial prospects.

Ranveer Singh headlines an ambitious zombie thrillerDirected by debutant Jai Mehta, son of filmmaker Hansal Mehta, 'Pralay' is said to be inspired by Portuguese Nobel Prize-winning author José Saramago's novel 'Blindness'. The film features Ranveer Singh as a crusader fighting a devastating zombie outbreak and is being positioned as one of Bollywood's most ambitious horror projects.

Ranveer is not alone in exploring the undead. Tiger Shroff is also set to feature in Ahmed Khan's untitled zombie comedy, while the Telugu blockbuster ' Zombie Reddy ' is returning with a sequel starring Teja Sajja and Shanaya Kapoor.

How India slowly discovered zombie storiesAlthough zombies have been a staple of Korean and Hollywood entertainment for years, Indian cinema has only occasionally experimented with the genre.

One of the earliest mainstream attempts was Raj & DK's 2013 cult comedy ' Go Goa Gone ', starring Saif Ali Khan, Kunal Kemmu and Vir Das. While the film received a mixed response during its theatrical run, it gradually built a loyal fan base over the years.

Reflecting on the film, Raj Nidimoru shared with the aforementioned publication, "We wanted to do something that didn't exist in India. We'd just finished 'Shor in the City' and wanted to make something completely different. The idea was also to mirror the lives of slackers living a zombie-like existence 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 film for beginners. Today, people ask us about a sequel, but we'd rather let 'Go Goa Gone' remain what it is."

'Betaal' attempted to expand the genreThe 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 revolved around an army unit that accidentally awakens undead British soldiers. While its concept and production design received appreciation, many critics felt it fell short in delivering genuine 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 part of mainstream Indian pop culture. But younger viewers consume Korean and Western content regularly, so I'm optimistic the time is finally right."

Can Bollywood make zombie films mainstream?South Korean productions such as 'Train to Busan', 'Peninsula', 'Kingdom' and 'All of Us Are Dead' have redefined zombie storytelling by combining horror with emotional narratives and social themes. Indian filmmakers now hope to achieve a similar breakthrough.

Raj Nidimoru believes audiences are ready, provided filmmakers deliver world-class execution. "Since 'Go Goa Gone', audiences have watched a lot of international content. If we're making zombie films today, they have to match the production quality of Hollywood and South Korean cinema. That's the real challenge."

Mahajan echoed the sentiment, saying, "The audience is gradually warming up to zombie stories. When top stars back these films, they naturally reach a much wider audience. That's exactly the boost the genre needs."

With Ranveer Singh's 'Pralay', Kartik Aaryan's upcoming zombie thriller, Tiger Shroff's horror comedy and the sequel to 'Zombie Reddy' all in the pipeline, Bollywood's zombie era may finally be taking shape. The biggest question now is which film will become the genre's defining blockbuster.