'Porbandar' to 'Pralay': Hansal Mehta's True Story Films announces slate
What's the story
Filmmaker Hansal Mehta and producer Sahil Saigal's production house True Story Films has unveiled an exciting lineup of upcoming projects. The slate includes a mix of Bollywood spectacles, regional cinema, and an AI-powered food series. The duo shared details with Variety about their future ventures, such as Porbandar, Kehar Singh, and Mehfooz. They also provided updates on Pralay, a post-apocalyptic thriller starring Ranveer Singh that's currently in pre-production.
Upcoming films
'Pralay' and 'Porbandar'
Pralay, directed by Jai Mehta (Mehta's son), is a post-apocalyptic zombie survival thriller. The film is being co-produced with Applause Entertainment and Singh's own production company, Maa Kasam Films. True Story Films is also finalizing a studio deal for Porbandar, an action film set in the coastal city of Gujarat, where Mahatma Gandhi was born. Mehta will direct this project himself.
Film updates
'Mehfooz' and 'Kehar Singh'
Mehfooz, a cannibalistic horror film, has completed its development phase and secured a studio, but is still looking for a director. Kehar Singh, directed by Ajitpal Singh (known for Sundance selection Fire in the Mountains), is also in the works. It is described as "a spectacle film" with more details to be revealed later.
New projects
'Dilkashi,' 'Rasooi'
True Story Films is currently producing Dilkashi, a romantic musical directed by Lijo Jose Pellissery. This film marks the Malayalam filmmaker's Hindi debut and is a collaboration with Amazon MGM Studios. The project features music by AR Rahman and introduces a new female lead. Mehta described it as "a love story told in Pellissery's distinctive style." The filmmaker is further backing Rasooi, an AI-powered food series that explores "Indian kitchens and regional cuisines," where chefs will remain behind-the-scenes collaborators.
Regional focus
Regional cinema focus
True Story Films is also producing Sardar Asardar, a Gujarati film directed by Rishabh Ghelani. The movie focuses on a specific chapter of Indian freedom fighter Vallabhbhai Patel's life before he became known as Sardar. The company has produced Hanere de Panchi (Birds in the Dark), a Punjabi independent film directed by cinematographer Shashank Walia.