Ranveer Singh-Kalyani Priyadarshan's Pralay: Netizens demand makers to rope in Deepika Padukone as zombie, fans unite

Fresh off the thunderous success of Dhurandhar, Ranveer Singh shows no signs of slowing down. Even as Aditya Dhar’s film continues its winning run, conversations have already pivoted to the actor’s next big gamble- Pralay, a zombie thriller that promises to push Hindi cinema into largely uncharted territory.

Related Story: Kalyani Priyadarshan to make Bollywood debut opposite Ranveer Singh in zombie thriller Pralay

A Genre Shift with Pan-India Ambitions

Zombie films have rarely found mainstream footing in Bollywood, which is why Pralay has instantly piqued curiosity. Reports suggesting that Lokah: Chapter 1 actor Kalyani Priyadarshan has been cast opposite Ranveer Singh have further amplified the buzz.

For Kalyani, who has built a strong reputation in Malayalam cinema, this project could mark a crucial leap toward a Pan-India identity. Directed by Jai Mehta, son of National Award-winning filmmaker Hansal Mehta, Pralay is said to be mounted on a lavish scale. Insiders hint at cutting-edge VFX, detailed production design, and immersive world-building- elements essential to bringing a convincing zombie universe to life.

Mukesh Chhabra’s Post Fans the Flames

While the makers are yet to make an official announcement, casting director Mukesh Chhabra added fuel to the speculation. Taking to X, he shared his excitement with the post, "Can’t wait to start #Pralay. Very excited!" (sic).

Though the post was later deleted, it was enough to send social media into a frenzy.

Netizens Pitch an Unexpected Twist

Amid the swirling reports of Kalyani Priyadarshan’s casting, the comments section took an unexpected turn. A section of netizens began suggesting that Deepika Padukone should also be part of the film- but with a twist.

Sharing a picture of the actress, one user commented, "Please cast #DeepikaPadukone for the zombie role. You can cut makeup budget by half." (sic)

Meanwhile, another wrote, “Imagine Deepika as a zombie- instant box office madness.” (sic)

On the other hand, a Reddit user commented, “Omg Deepika and Ranveer in a zombie thriller…I need it!!” (sic)

Must Read: Ranveer Singh–Alia Bhatt reunion on the cards with gritty zombie thriller Pralay?

Fans Push Back

Unsurprisingly, Deepika Padukone’s fans were quick to defend their favourite star. What followed was a classic social media face-off, with supporters calling out the comments as unnecessary and disrespectful. As with most viral debates, these reactions remain personal opinions rather than reflections of any casting reality.

With Pralay still shrouded in mystery, one thing is certain- the film has already succeeded in doing what every big project hopes for: grabbing attention well before the cameras roll.