May 04, 2026 4:30pm IST
Kartik Aaryan’s ‘Naagzilla’ Likely to Spark a Male Shapeshifter Trend in Hindi Films?
Indian mythology has never been as attractive for our filmmakers as it is now. “Krishnavataram,” “Ramayana,” “Varanasi,” “Jai Hanuman” and more films based on mythology are in the pipeline for 2026-27. Fans, trade pundits and industry observers are tracking this development closely. The success of such movies will encourage more filmmakers to explore India’s mammoth and seemingly endless storehouse of mythological, fantasy and folklore tales with bigger budgets.
One of the most interesting mythological-supernatural-cum-fantastical story elements is that of the Naag and Naagins. While there is a preponderance of TV shows themed around the mythical and vengeful Icchadhari Naagin, the “Naags,” by comparison, seem to have been given the short shrift by the makers of these productions.
However, Kartik Aaryan’s “Naagzilla - Naag Lok Ka Pehla Kaand,” directed by Mrigdeep Singh Lamba and set for release in February 2027, is set to change this narrative. Not much is known about the plot, other than it being a quirky comedy with a supernatural twist.
So, what is it that keeps filmmakers from exploring tales around “Naags” and “Naagrajs” while there is no dearth of Naagins in our shows? Variety India spoke to a few makers to unravel this mystery and to give us their pick of actors most suited for “Naag” roles.
Related Stories
A bold experiment
Producer-founder Yash Patnaik of Beyond Dreams, who is also a member of CII (M&E), made “Naagarjuna - Ek Yoddha” way back in 2016. It was based on the story of Takshak Naag, which finds mention in the Mahabharata. Patnaik says, “Yes, that was a decade ago. In fact, we began work on “Naagarjuna” even before the first season of “Naagin” was conceived.” Ekta Kapoor’s “Naagin” franchise started in November 2015 and is now in its seventh season.
Patnaik explains how “Naagarjuna” was a VFX-intensive effort. He says, “It took us two and a half years. For the first time, we created larger-than-life snakes, which looked bigger than anacondas. They were also shape-shifters. If you looked at ‘Naagin,’ the snakes were of regular size for a fantasy show. Our show was a fantasy snake thriller.”
Indian mythology has some interesting snake characters like “Vasuki,” “Takshak,” “Ulupi” (wife of Arjuna), “Anant Sheesha,” “Karkotaka,” to name some prominent ones. Patnaik, himself a mythology buff, says the tale of Takshak intrigued him a lot. “In ‘Mahabharata, there is a chapter where Arjuna marries Ulupi, the daughter of Naag Lok. Then, we have Sheshnag. Snakes have a deep philosophical, spiritual and emotional connection with the Indian audience. I think mythology is more connected with the male gods, while the goddesses have shown us power, intensity and dignity. I was always fascinated by the gods and anti-gods, asuras, rakshasas, daanavas, yakshas, daityas. We know about Shukracharya. When we tell the tale of a male divine entity, it is usually from the point of view of a woman,” he shares.
Casting for Bollywood
A Nagin movie in Hindi with Shraddha Kapoor in the lead is in the works. It is produced by Nikhil Dwivedi with Saket Chaudhary helming the project. Asked to state his preferences for the perfect Naag and Naagin, Patnaik says, “Ranveer Singh will make for a fantastic Naag Raj. He is like a chameleon with those deep, dark eyes. If I want a Naag with shades of gray, then Hrithik Roshan is a great option. Ranbir Kapoor and Ranveer could be cast as the positive and negative Nag respectively. Sanjay Dutt could be a powerful side villain, while Sharat Saxena will be the guardian of the Naag Lok. I would want Paintal (Gufi Paintal) in the mix as well.”
His choices for female Naagins are Malaika Arora, Kriti Sanon, Deepika Padukone and Shilpa Shetty. “I am looking for actors who have an imposing personality with matching physicality. Naags and Naagins need to express themselves with their faces and eyes on screen. Ranveer has the big arms and chest needed for Naag Raaj. The neck is very important to me. Deepika Padukone, Kriti Sanon and Shilpa Shetty fit the bill. Malaika has an agile body, while these three actresses have the swan neck needed for a Naagin. And they’re stunning!”
Director Ranjan Kumar Singh, who has directed multiple seasons of Ekta Kapoor’s “Naagin,” opines, “Hindi series are inspired by films like 'Nagina' and 'Nagin,' where the focus is on the female characters. She is the one with Icchadhari powers. In 2015, 'Naagin' got huge TV ratings, but the numbers have dropped over the years."
However, Singh maintains that it still has a loyal fan base who are curious to know who the new Naags or Naagins of TV are. He feels this is a testament to the power of the stories. “Hindi producers should surely attempt one big movie. If I had to cast someone, it would be Ranveer Singh as Naag Raj and Deepika Padukone as the Icchadhari Naagin. They would make the most gorgeous pair," he opines.
Actress Adaa Khan doesn't lose a beat when asked to name her choices. “My first two choices for male Naagraj would be Aditya Roy Kapur and Hrithik Roshan. Ranveer Singh is also a wonderful option, given that he is a fab actor," she says.
Comments are moderated. They may be edited for clarity and reprinting in whole or in part in Variety publications.