With Don 3 out of the way, Ranveer Singh has all the time in the world to focus on his next, Jai Mehta’s Pralay. Earlier this month, mid-day reported that the zombie thriller will go on floors in August (Mumbai under zombie attack soon – Dec 15). Considering this is the director’s first feature film, he is going all out to garner eyeballs. Industry sources reveal that his first pick for the female lead in the film is Alia Bhatt.

“The female lead is central to the narrative,” says the source, adding that she “isn’t introduced as a love interest. She challenges the hero’s ideas in a collapsing world.”

Who could wield that power better than Bhatt? “She brings credibility. In a film this experimental, you need powerhouses and actors the audience’s trust,” the source adds. If it all works out, this could be Bhatt’s third outing with Singh after Gully Boy (2019) and Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani (2023).

While discussions are yet to begin, the makers are keen to initiate conversations once pre-production moves along in January. Set in a ravaged, near-apocalyptic Mumbai following a catastrophic outbreak, Pralay is designed as a survival drama. “The world [of Pralay] is harsh, resources are scarce, and every character is pushed to moral breaking points. This is not a glossy zombie film,” the source asserts.

Jai Mehta made his directorial debut with father-filmmaker Hansal Mehta’s series ‘Scam 1992: The Harshad Mehta Story’. He then followed it up with another series, ‘Lootere’ with Vivek Gomber and Rajat Kapoor.