If 2026 belonged to franchises and sequels, 2027 could well be remembered as the year Bollywood embraced zombies. Interestingly, three of the industry’s biggest stars—Kartik Aaryan, Ranveer Singh and Tiger Shroff—are all attached to ambitious films set in the zombie universe, setting up an intriguing battle not just for box office success but also for the first-mover advantage in a genre that is still largely untapped in India.
At the moment, Kartik Aaryan appears to have an edge. His upcoming film with director Vishnuvardhan, which reportedly explores a zombie world, is aiming for an early 2027 theatrical release. If those plans stay on track, Kartik could become the first of the three actors to introduce audiences to a large-scale zombie entertainer next year.
Ranveer Singh, on the other hand, has been developing Pralay for a long time. The project faced uncertainty after the controversy surrounding his exit from Don 3, with the Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) initially issuing a non-cooperation directive against the actor. The film also made headlines over reports that a major portion would be shot overseas.
With the FWICE having withdrawn its directive, Pralay is once again moving ahead. Industry reports suggest Ranveer is expected to begin filming in Australia in August before taking a short paternity break. The makers are believed to be targeting a release towards the end of 2027, which could mean Kartik’s film reaches cinemas earlier.
Tiger Shroff is also preparing to enter the zombie space. Director Ahmed Khan has reportedly completed the actor’s look test, and the film is expected to go on floors soon. Although the project remains under wraps, Tiger’s action image makes him a natural fit for a genre that combines adrenaline, survival and horror.
The bigger question, however, is whether release timing alone will determine the winner. Being first can generate curiosity, but sustaining audience interest will ultimately depend on the strength of the story, execution and scale. The zombie genre has found massive success in Hollywood, but Indian cinema has only made a handful of attempts, leaving plenty of room for a breakout hit.
Trade analyst Girish Johar believes the genre has significant potential in today’s theatrical landscape.
“Hollywood has been very successful in this genre and Indian films also are trying to engage the audience with genre. Go Goa Gone was one of the films which did pretty… was kind of okayish at the box office but now I think with more evolved and younger audiences coming to the theaters films backed by Ranveer, Tiger and Kartik all zombie flicks could give this genre a new impetus and it’s an exciting genre so it has action it has some horror element it’s a commercial element and I hope all three of them make good films and all three should do well at the box office.”
Johar also feels that each of the three actors brings a distinct strength to the table.
“Ranveer Singh obviously will have huge budgets backing him. Tiger Shroff is no mean machine either. And Kartik Aaryan is also a favourite, a heartthrob, is a rising star and has a huge fan following. So all three have huge potential at the box office.”
Whether audiences choose Kartik’s early arrival, Ranveer’s large-scale spectacle or Tiger’s action-heavy interpretation, one thing is certain: 2027 has the potential to redefine the zombie genre in Bollywood. The real winner may not simply be the actor who reaches theatres first, but the film that convinces Indian audiences that zombies deserve a permanent place in mainstream Hindi cinema.This version is fully restructured into a debate feature rather than a rewritten news report, reducing overlap while preserving the original reporting and the quoted remarks.