For a studio that built its legacy on romance, spectacle and mainstream entertainers, Yash Raj Films choosing horror is the kind of pivot that instantly grabs attention. After more than five decades of staying away from the genre, the banner has now locked filmmaker Abhay Pannu to direct its first horror feature, setting the stage for one of its most intriguing creative departures in recent years.
The project gives Pannu a major new canvas at YRF, with the filmmaker not only directing the film but also developing the script. The feature remains untitled for now, yet the decision itself signals a clear shift in how the studio is expanding its storytelling ambitions under its evolving leadership structure.
Akshaye Widhani Drives Yrf’S Bold Genre Shift
What makes this development especially significant is the executive push behind it. The film is scheduled to go on floors in late 2026, and the move into horror has come together with strong backing from YRF CEO Akshaye Widhani, who is understood to have played a key role in taking the collaboration to Aditya Chopra and helping open the door for the banner’s first film in the genre.
An industry source said, “Come 2027, and the banner will step into the horror space with a feature film directed by Abhay Pannu.” The insider also noted that Widhani has been increasingly involved in expanding YRF’s creative ecosystem, particularly by supporting a younger mix of storytellers and backing projects that push the company beyond its traditional comfort zones.
That larger strategy has already been visible in the studio’s recent choices. YRF has been aligning with filmmakers such as Mohit Suri, Sameer Saxena and now Abhay Pannu, while building a parallel development model that includes both Aditya Chopra-led projects and films shaped under Widhani’s supervision.
The Film Is Under Wraps, But The Intent Is Clear
For now, plot details, cast and technical crew have been kept tightly under wraps. What is confirmed is that the film is a horror feature written by Abhay Pannu, with Yash Raj Films positioning it as a major genre first for the company.
The secrecy around the project also puts more focus on the filmmaker steering it. Pannu is best known for Rocket Boys, the acclaimed SonyLIV series that premiered in 2022 and won praise for its writing, performances and treatment of a real-life story with scale and emotional detail. He also directed Kadak Singh, the 2023 Pankaj Tripathi-led film that premiered on ZEE5, and has writing credits on Mumbai Diaries.
That body of work gives YRF’s new horror venture an interesting creative spine. Pannu now moves from well-regarded character-driven storytelling into a theatrical genre space for one of Hindi cinema’s most established banners, making this one of the more closely watched developments on the studio’s upcoming slate.
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