- YRF is producing its first-ever horror feature film.
- Varun Dhawan has been cast in the lead role.
- Rocket Boys director Abhay Pannu will helm the project.
- The film is expected to begin production later this year.
- The theatrical release is planned for 2027.
For more than five decades, Yash Raj Films (YRF) has built its legacy with iconic romances, action spectacles, thrillers, dramas, comedies, and spy franchises. From Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge and Veer-Zaara to the blockbuster YRF Spy Universe featuring Pathaan, Tiger, and War, the studio has consistently reinvented itself. Yet one genre has remained unexplored—horror.
That is about to change.
YRF is officially entering the horror space with its first feature-length horror film, marking a significant milestone in the studio's evolution. The project will be directed by acclaimed filmmaker Abhay Pannu, best known for creating the critically acclaimed SonyLIV series Rocket Boys. Pannu has also written the screenplay, with production expected to begin later this year before a theatrical release in 2027.
Leading the ambitious venture is Varun Dhawan, making it his second collaboration with YRF after Sui Dhaaga. While the actor has explored comedy, romance, action, family entertainers, and creature comedy, this project is expected to mark his first full-fledged horror film as a leading man.
According to a source close to the development, “Varun has come on board as the lead for YRF’s first horror film. Yash Raj Films (YRF) is entering the horror genre for the first time with a feature film directed by Abhay Pannu, strategically championed by Akshaye Widhani, and now headlined by Varun Dhawan as the lead. YRF have made films across almost every genre except horror. Come 2027, and the banner will finally step into this genre.”
The announcement comes at a time when horror has emerged as one of Bollywood's fastest-growing genres. In recent years, audiences have embraced horror films that blend supernatural elements with strong storytelling, creating commercial successes across theatrical and streaming platforms. YRF's decision to enter the genre reflects both evolving audience tastes and the studio's willingness to diversify its slate beyond its established franchises.
For Varun Dhawan, the project also represents another step in expanding his filmography. Although he has previously appeared in supernatural settings—including the werewolf comedy Bhediya, which combined horror-inspired visuals with humor—this film is expected to immerse him in a darker, more suspense-driven narrative. It offers the actor an opportunity to showcase a different side of his screen presence, moving beyond his trademark commercial entertainers.
The film is equally significant for director Abhay Pannu. After earning widespread praise for Rocket Boys, the filmmaker is set to make his theatrical directorial debut with one of India's biggest production houses. His appointment continues YRF's strategy of backing filmmakers with distinctive creative voices.
Under Aditya Chopra's leadership, the studio has increasingly collaborated with emerging directors, including Mohit Suri and Sameer Saxena, while continuing to expand its storytelling ambitions. The success of recent YRF-backed projects has reinforced the banner's confidence in experimenting with fresh genres and narratives.
While plot details remain tightly under wraps, expectations are already building around how YRF will approach horror with its signature production scale, cinematic storytelling, and theatrical experience. With Varun Dhawan leading the cast and Abhay Pannu behind the camera, the untitled film could become one of the studio's most closely watched releases of 2027, signaling the beginning of an entirely new chapter in Yash Raj Films' cinematic journey.
