Actor Akshay Kumar is set to enter the world of science-fiction horror with Samuk, an ambitious alien survival thriller directed by Kanishk Varma and produced by Vipul Shah. The film is being developed as a large-scale pan-India theatrical release slated for 2027 and promises to blend survival horror, military realism and practical creature effects rarely explored in Indian cinema.
The makers have assembled an international technical team to bring the project to life. Academy Award-nominated creature effects designer Alec Gillis, known for his work on the Alien and Predator franchises, including Alien: Romulus, has been roped in to design the film’s alien creature. Hollywood stunt coordinator Luke Tumber, whose credits include Mission: Impossible, Venom, Star Wars and No Time To Die, will oversee the action sequences.
According to reports, director Kanishk Varma spent over two years developing the concept with producer Vipul Shah. The makers are focusing heavily on practical effects rather than relying entirely on CGI, aiming to create a physically present alien creature on set to deliver a more immersive cinematic experience.
Speaking about the project, Vipul Shah said the team wanted to attempt something entirely new for Indian audiences. “Our aim is to create a world-class alien thriller for audiences,” he shared.
Director Kanishk Varma revealed that the film was inspired by his fascination with elite security forces and classic survival thrillers like Alien and Predator. “Samuk was born from my love for the SPG world and survival thrillers. Bringing those influences together with Akshay sir has been surreal,” he said.
Varma also stressed the importance of practical creature filmmaking, saying the tactile horror of older Hollywood films gave them timeless appeal. “I always wanted the creature to feel physically real on set,” he explained.
Akshay Kumar confirmed his involvement in the project and called the genre a fresh challenge in his career. “Alien thriller is a totally new genre for me and also for our films. I am very excited about it,” the actor said.
Veteran creature designer Alec Gillis praised the collaboration and described Samuk’s alien design as unlike anything audiences have seen before. “In an era of CGI and AI, it is gratifying that directors and audiences still value handcrafted, human-made traditional monsters,” he said.
Gillis also described Akshay Kumar as a performer with “the physicality of Jason Statham and the likability of Tom Cruise,” adding that the challenge lies in creating a monster worthy of facing him on screen.
Meanwhile, stunt coordinator Luke Tumber said the makers were aiming for Hollywood-level action while retaining grounded realism. “Working with Akshay Kumar on this kind of grounded, high-intensity action film is incredibly exciting,” he said.
Samuk is expected to combine survival horror, military action and old-school creature filmmaking in what could become one of the most ambitious sci-fi thrillers attempted in Indian cinema.
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