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.

Dev Patel, who was to kick off The Peasant’s shoot in Nepal this month, has scrapped the plan amid the escalating unrest in the country. Instead, Patel, who will star in and helm the revenge drama, is India-bound. Insiders say that the actor and director will kick off filming in Mumbai in November, followed by schedules in parts of rural Maharashtra and Rajasthan.

A source close to the production told mid-day, “The safety of our cast and crew is our top priority. We could not risk delays or disruptions arising out of the political instability in Nepal. When the unrest worsened, we had to be pragmatic — India offers much of what we needed logistically and visually.”

Set in the 14th century, The Peasant tells the story of an Indian shepherd who takes a stand against a group of mercenary knights. Though the movie is set in India, the director had envisioned certain portions in some remote locations of Nepal. Explaining the choice, the source added, “Nepal has some ancient motifs, which would’ve fit perfectly in the story.”

Patel, who has been focusing on The Peasant, his second directorial venture, for many months, will begin with interior scenes in Mumbai. Another insider said, “It’s a demanding project, and Dev is keen to begin as soon as possible.”