Dharma Productions is widening its theatrical playbook again, and this time the banner is diving deeper into dark fantasy. Rajkummar Rao and Pratibha Ranta have come on board to lead Vishkanya, a fantasy horror film that is being positioned as a high concept story built around magic, myth and fear as per reports in Bollywood Hungama. The project adds another intriguing title to Dharma’s growing push into genre cinema, with the studio steadily expanding beyond its mainstream romance and family drama space.
The new film will be directed by Sonal Joshi, who made her feature directorial debut with Sukhee in 2023. Her behind the scenes credits give the project an interesting creative mix, with assistant and creative work spanning Dhoom 3, Tamasha, Jab Harry Met Sejal and the Netflix series Bard of Blood. With Vishkanya, she now steps into a much larger world driven by fantasy and horror elements.
Latest Update On Vishkanya
Box Office Worldwide has exclusively learned that Vishkanya will pair Rao and Ranta in a story designed around an expansive supernatural universe. Pratibha Ranta is set to play the titular character, placing her at the centre of the film’s mythic premise. The makers are keeping detailed plot points tightly guarded, but the film is being envisioned as more than a conventional scare driven outing. The emphasis is on world building, with fantasy elements expected to shape the horror rather than merely decorate it.
The project is also moving at a healthy pace. Production is expected to begin by the end of 2026, giving Dharma another major title to line up for its 2027 to 2028 theatrical slate. The studio has already been assembling an ambitious genre heavy lineup, and Vishkanya fits neatly into that strategy.
Why The Pairing Stands Out
For Rajkummar Rao, Vishkanya marks another collaboration with Dharma after Mr. & Mrs. Mahi in 2024. The actor has built a strong track record in stories that balance middle cinema instincts with high concept ideas, making him an especially interesting fit for a fantasy horror setup. For Pratibha Ranta, the film looks like another major step up after the attention she drew with Laapataa Ladies.
It also marks her second association with Dharma Productions after Accused, the psychological thriller co starring Konkona Sen Sharma, which premiered on Netflix in February 2026. That quick return suggests the studio is betting strongly on her screen presence at a time when younger actors are increasingly being trusted with genre led stories.
Rajkummar Rao’s Recent And Upcoming Work
Rao’s recent run includes the theatrical releases Srikanth and Mr. & Mrs. Mahi in 2024, followed by Stree 2 in 2024, which further strengthened his commercial standing. In 2026, he also featured in Toaster, a Netflix film that added an OTT release to his recent slate. Looking ahead from September 21, 2026, Vishkanya now joins his confirmed upcoming lineup and signals another shift toward scale driven storytelling.
Pratibha Ranta’s Recent And Upcoming Work
Pratibha Ranta made her film debut with Laapataa Ladies in 2024 and quickly converted that breakout into bigger opportunities. In 2026, she followed it with Accused on Netflix, expanding into darker material, and she is also part of The Revolutionaries, the period drama series slated for 2026. With Vishkanya, she now lands one of her biggest headline roles yet, at a point when her career is clearly moving from promising newcomer to front foot performer.
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