Akshay Kumar and Vipul Amrutlal Shah reunite for an ambitious survival sci-fi thriller, Hollywood creature and action specialists join Kanishk Varma directorial.
Akshay Kumar is all set to enter a completely new cinematic territory. The superstar will begin shooting for his upcoming alien survival thriller Samuk in London from August 23, 2026, with the film being mounted on a large international scale. Variety India has learnt that the makers are planning to shoot nearly 90% of the film in London, while the remaining portion will be filmed in Mumbai.
The team is also planning to complete the London schedule in one continuous shooting stint. The decision reflects the scale and technical requirements of the project, with London serving as the primary setting for the film.
Directed by Kanishk Varma, Samuk is being developed as an ambitious survival thriller that combines science fiction, alien elements, action and old-school horror. The film is expected to be a theatrical release in 2027 and is being positioned as a pan-Indian project rather than a conventional Hindi action film.
Akshay Kumar Enters A Completely New Genre, What immediately makes Samuk interesting is the fact that Akshay Kumar himself considers the subject a completely new space for him.
The actor has previously explored action, comedy, social drama, thriller and historical subjects, but an alien survival film is something he has never headlined before. Speaking about the project earlier, Kumar described the alien-thriller genre as something new not only for himself but also for mainstream Indian cinema.
That makes Samuk particularly interesting in the context of Akshay’s career. Instead of returning to another familiar franchise or conventional action-comedy, the actor is attempting a genre that has largely remained unexplored at this scale in Indian theatrical cinema.
The makers are reportedly aiming for a grounded approach rather than turning the film into a purely CGI-heavy spectacle. That distinction could become one of Samuk’s biggest strengths.
‘Samuk’ To Use Practical Creature Effects – One of the most interesting aspects of the project is its approach to the alien itself.
The makers have brought in international technical talent with experience in creature heavy and large-scale action films. Alec Gillis, known for his work connected to major creature franchises including Alien and Predator, is associated with the creature-effects side of the project. International action specialist Luke Tumber has also joined the team.
Their involvement indicates that the makers are not simply planning to create the alien entirely through computer-generated imagery.
KBP REVIEW Reports have described Samuk as a film that will combine practical creature effects, military realism and old-school horror aesthetics, drawing inspiration from the kind of tactile filmmaking associated with classic Hollywood creature thrillers.
This approach could give the film a physicality that is often missing from heavily CGI-driven Indian productions.
Vipul Shah Wants An Old-School Approach – Producer Vipul Amrutlal Shah has also revealed that Samuk will not be made as a film dependent on excessive VFX.
In an earlier interaction with Bollywood Hungama, Shah explained that the project is expected to follow an old-school filmmaking style with limited VFX, while still delivering the scale required for an alien creature film. He also revealed that director Kanishk Varma originally brought the subject to him.
Instead of attempting to compete with Hollywood purely through the volume of visual effects, Samuk appears to be looking at atmosphere, practical work, action and suspense as equally important components.
Kanishk Varma has reportedly spent considerable time developing the concept, with the director drawing inspiration from his fascination with elite security forces as well as iconic science-fiction and horror films.
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For Kanishk Varma, Samuk represents his biggest theatrical opportunity yet. The filmmaker has previously worked across projects including Sanak, Inside Edge and Glory, but an Akshay Kumar-led alien survival thriller represents a significant jump in scale.
The challenge will be balancing the spectacle with the survival element. The film is not being positioned simply as an alien invasion movie. The makers have described it as a survival alien thriller, suggesting that human vulnerability and the struggle to stay alive will remain central to the story.
That also explains the decision to bring in international action expertise. If the film succeeds in making the alien threat feel physical and dangerous rather than simply digital, Samuk could offer Indian audiences something considerably different from the usual sci-fi template.
Samuk also marks another collaboration between Akshay Kumar and Vipul Amrutlal Shah. The actor-producer duo has previously worked together on films including Aankhen, Waqt: The Race Against Time, Namastey London, Singh Is Kinng and Action Replay.
However, Samuk takes their partnership into a completely different zone.The duo is now attempting a large-scale science-fiction survival film with international technical talent. Shah has also spoken positively about Kumar’s involvement in the project, describing the actor as deeply involved despite his packed schedule.The combination of Akshay’s action-star image and Shah’s experience with socially driven and high-concept subjects makes Samuk an intriguing proposition.
Why The London Schedule Matters – Around 90% of the film being shot in London is another major production decision.
The city will serve as the primary backdrop for the film, with only around 10% of the production planned for Mumbai. Shooting the project predominantly in one international location will allow the team to maintain visual continuity while building the world of the story around a consistent environment.
The decision to shoot the entire London portion in one continuous run is equally important. Alien films often require extensive technical preparation because creature effects, action choreography, stunt work and physical sets have to work together precisely.
Principal photography is now set to begin on August 23, making the London schedule the first major step towards bringing Samuk from development into full-scale production. A 2027 Theatrical Event In The Making?
At present, Samuk is expected to arrive in theatres in 2027. The project is being developed as a pan-Indian theatrical feature, with the makers clearly aiming beyond the conventional Hindi-speaking audience.
The genre itself gives the film an advantage. Indian cinema has produced science-fiction films before, but mainstream alien survival thrillers remain relatively rare, particularly ones attempting to combine practical creature work with large-scale action.
But ultimately, Samuk will have to work as a story first. The alien, the action and the visual effects can create curiosity, but the survival element, characters and emotional stakes will determine whether audiences connect with the film. That is where Kanishk Varma’s execution will become crucial.
For Akshay Kumar, meanwhile, the film provides an opportunity to show himself in a completely different environment. If the makers manage to deliver the grounded, atmospheric alien thriller they are promising, Samuk could become one of the more unusual additions to his filmography.
And with the first major schedule beginning in London on August 23, the wait to see what this ambitious experiment actually looks like has officially begun.
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The film has already generated considerable curiosity with its gritty first look posters, which presented Kumar and Saif in dramatically different shades. Haiwaan is an official remake of Priyadarshan’s 2016 Malayalam thriller Oppam, but the Hindi adaptation is being positioned as a dark cat and mouse survival thriller.
The film’s teaser is scheduled to arrive on August 12, with the makers building towards a September 11, 2026 theatrical release. The project marks a reunion between Akshay Kumar and Saif Ali Khan in leading roles, nearly two decades after their previous major collaborations.
What makes the film particularly interesting is the contrast between their characters. Akshay plays a ruthless and dangerous antagonist, while Saif steps into the role of a blind martial artist who becomes the central figure trying to protect a young girl from the killer.
The story revolves around a high-stakes chase in which Akshay’s character relentlessly hunts his target, while Saif’s character must rely on heightened senses, intelligence and physical ability to stay one step ahead.
The supporting cast includes Boman Irani, Saiyami Kher and Shriya Pilgaonkar, while Malayalam superstar Mohanlal is set to make a special appearance.
Priyadarshan, meanwhile, is approaching a major milestone with Haiwaan, which forms part of his journey towards his 100th directorial venture. Saiyami Kher has already spoken about watching the film’s first cut and praised the veteran filmmaker’s storytelling and the intensity of the project.
Saif has also expressed excitement about the role, calling it the most interesting opportunities of his recent career and praising his reunion with Akshay.
