Apr 23, 2026 3:11pm IST
Ayushmann Khurrana Begins Shooting in Kerala for YRF and Posham Pa Pictures’ Thriller Film (EXCLUSIVE)
In December 2024, Yash Raj Films and Posham Pa Pictures announced a multi-film collaboration aimed at entertaining audiences with unique and fresh stories. Variety India has now learnt that their first project has begun production with Ayushmann Khurrana in the lead.
Ayushmann headlines this yet-untitled Akshaye Widhani-produced film, defined as a gritty edge-of-the-seat thriller. The actor quietly commenced shooting in the first week of April, in Kerala, and is expected to wrap it up by May-end in a start-to-finish schedule. Sameer Saxena, who has previously directed the critically acclaimed Netflix series “Kaala Paani," is helming the project, marking his first theatrical feature film direction.
The makers are maintaining strict confidentiality around the plot to preserve the film’s suspense, but sources describe it as a disruptive genre-bending thriller, with Ayushmann playing a common man who's thrust into a nightmarish situation. This race-against-time thriller features an ensemble of supporting characters largely played by lesser-known actors.
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The thriller marks Posham Pa Pictures' foray into theatrical storytelling following its acclaimed work with shows such as “Kaaala Paani,” “Maamla Legal Hai” and “Home Shanti.”Next up, the company has a Prime Video series, “Adarsh Baal Bidyalaya,” starring Kay Kay Menon and Naveen Kasturia in lead roles. As for YRF, the Aditya Chopra-led banner's next release is Alia Bhatt and Sharvari-starrer "Alpha", scheduled to hit cinemas on July 10, 2026. Ali Abbas Zafar's action romance starring Ahaan Panday is currently being shot, while Mohit Suri's romantic drama with Ahaan and Aneet Padda is set to go on floors later this year.
For Ayushmann, this marks his third collaboration with Yash Raj Films following “Dum Laga Ke Haisha” (2015) and “Meri Pyaari Bindu. (2017)" It will also show him exploring thriller genre after back-to-back comedies in the recent years. Coming up ahead, the actor has three movies lined up for release this year, beginning with “Pati Patni Aur Woh Do," which releases in cinemas on May 15. This will be followed by Dharma Productions and Sikhya Entertainment's “Udta Teer,” with Sara Ali Khan, on September 11 and Sooraj Barjatya's “Yeh Prem Mol Liya,” with Sharvari, on November 27, 2026.
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