In September, mid-day had reported that Dev Patel would be India-bound for his second directorial venture, tentatively titled The  Peasant (Destination India for Dev, Sep 15). Sure enough, his December has been earmarked for Mumbai. Sources tell us that the actor and director will fly down to Maximum City to kick off the film’s first schedule, a 22-day stint.

Revenge and action dominated Patel’s maiden directorial offering, the acclaimed Monkey Man (2024), and they continue in his next as well. With The Peasant, he is creating a revenge-fuelled action thriller set in India of the 14th century and centred on a shepherd, who rises against mercenary knights.

Patel was in Delhi a few weeks ago for the final set of meetings, and filming will begin on December 1. A source close to the project revealed, “Since it is set in the 14th century, elaborate period-themed sets are being constructed in a studio at Film City, Goregaon. The team will begin with world-building and crowd sequences on December 1, and Dev will film his portions between December 15 and 20.”

The unit will take a Christmas and New Year break before regrouping for a marathon shoot that will begin on January 6 and go on till March-end.