Bhumi Satish Pednekkar Set to Star in Horror Franchise Jaani Dushman; Collaborates with Bhushan Kumar and ‘Titan’ Creators for 2027 Cinema Release
Bhumi Satish Pednekkar is stepping into the horror space with Jaani Dushman – Darr Ke Aage Maut Hai, a large-scale theatrical horror franchise produced by Bhushan Kumar’s T-Series Films alongside Prabhleen Sandhu’s Almighty Motion Picture. Aiming for a 2027 big-screen debut, the movie features the actor leading a supernatural thriller set in the United Kingdom.
The project marks an interesting new project in Pednekkar’s filmography, which has seen her move between social dramas, relationship comedies, crime thrillers and mainstream entertainers effortlessly. The actor has always been on a journey of exploring different storytelling formats, starting from an unconventional debut with Dum Laga Ke Haisha (2015) to leading the gritty Bhakshak (2024) and stepping into the crime thriller space with Daldal (2026). With #JaaniDushman, she now takes on a genre that will bring supernatural horror and action into the mix.
Interestingly, the film reunites the creative team behind the paranormal series Bhay – The Gaurav Tiwari Mystery. Arshad Syed, who directed the series, will helm the film, while Robbie Grewal, who was associated with its creative vision, comes on board as creative producer. The makers are positioning the project as a large-scale theatrical spectacle, with internationally acclaimed action and stunt specialist Peter Pedrero joining the team. His credits include Harry Potter, Fast & Furious, The Expendables, Game of Thrones and The Conjuring.
While the horror elements and action are expected to drive the film’s cinematic scale, its emotional core will be a mother-daughter relationship, layered with buried family secrets and supernatural occurrences. The makers are looking to develop the property as a franchise, with the first instalment introducing audiences to its central world.
Pednekkar’s casting comes at a time when the actor has spoken about wanting to protect her ability to take creative risks. In an interview earlier this year, she described her career as an evolution rather than reinvention, saying she was drawn to characters that challenged her and did not offer easy answers. Her performance as DCP Rita Ferreira in Daldal emerged as a breakout performance of the year, and also marked a move towards darker, psychologically demanding material.
If there’s one thing Bhumi has made clear over the years, it’s that she has no interest in being predictable. She is passionate about her craft, loves to experiment and has built a career out of defying expectations and chasing the unknown. Bhumi has never been one to be boxed in a genre or an image and with every new choice, she continues to raise the stakes. With this film too, she is ready to step into the unknown and willing to show how there is always a path unexplored for an actor hungry to explore.
https://www.instagram.com/p/DfTvFkSsO5T/?vrfl=MmlyZzdsNGtoMnpi
By Keerti Kadam