Ayushmann Khurrana begins filming in Kerala for Sameer Saxena' directorial gritty thriller

After a string of social comedies, Ayushmann Khurrana is returning to the gritty, high-stakes territory of his 'Andhadhun' days. Now, reports have confirmed that the 'Pati Patni Aur Woh Do' actor has quietly begun filming his next project which is touted to be a hard-hitting thriller amid the scenic yet mysterious backwaters of Kerala.

The film marks the first project under the high-profile multi-film alliance between Yash Raj Films (YRF) and Posham Pa Pictures.

Ayushmann Khurrana’s new thriller project announced

As per Variety India, Khurrana is leading this still‑untitled Akshaye Widhani-produced film, pitched as a hard‑hitting thriller. The actor cautiously kicked off shooting in the first week of April in Kerala and is slated to wrap the entire schedule by the end of May in a single, continuous stretch. Sameer Saxena, best known for directing the critically acclaimed Netflix series ‘Kaala Paani’, is at the helm, making this his first directorial venture in a theatrical feature film.

Ayushmann Khurrana as an ordinary man in a nightmare

The makers are keeping the storyline closely guarded to preserve the film’s suspense, but as per reports, Ayushmann will portray a regular man who suddenly finds himself in a terrifying mess. This high‑stakes, race‑against‑time thriller also features a supporting cast made up mostly of relatively unknown actors.

Posham Pa Pictures is making its theatrical debut with this thriller, after earning praise for shows like ‘Kaaala Paani’, ‘Maamla Legal Hai’ and ‘Home Shanti’. The company’s next project is the Prime Video series ‘Adarsh Baal Bidyalaya’, headlined by Kay Kay Menon and Naveen Kasturia.

Ayushmann Khurrana’s third outing and 2026 releases

Meanwhile, this film will be Ayushmann’s third outing with YRF, after ‘Dum Laga Ke Haisha’ (2015) and ‘Meri Pyaari Bindu’ (2017). It also signals his move into the thriller space, breaking away from his recent sequence of back‑to‑back comedies. Later in 2026, he has three movies set for release: ‘Pati Patni Aur Woh Do’ on May 15, 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’ opposite Sharvari on November 27.
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