Bollywood superstar Akshay Kumar is set to headline what is being described as India’s first full-fledged alien thriller, titled ‘Samuk’. The film brings together international stunt specialists and Oscar-nominated creature designers to create a terrifying alien world with practical effects .
A new genre for Indian cinema
Akshay Kumar confirmed his involvement in the project, expressing excitement about entering uncharted territory.
“Yes, I’ve signed this film. I found the script and subject of Samuk fascinating. Sci-fi alien thriller is a totally new genre for me and also for our films. I am very excited about it,” he told Hindustan Times .
The film is being directed by Kanishk Varma and produced by Akshay Kumar, Vipul Amrutlal Shah and Ashin Shah. It marks the reunion of Akshay and Vipul Shah after 12 years .
Hollywood action expert on board
One of the major international names attached to ‘Samuk’ is Luke Tumber, a former Royal Marines Commando and respected Hollywood stunt coordinator. His credits include ‘Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning’ (2025), ‘Venom’ (2018), ‘No Time To Die’ (2021), and ‘Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker’ (2019) .
Tumber expressed excitement about the project, stating: “This project represents an exciting fusion of international stunt expertise, visionary filmmaking, and authentic action cinema. Together, we aim to deliver a film that combines powerful storytelling with cutting-edge live-action sequences that will resonate with audiences internationally” .
He also praised Akshay Kumar, calling him “widely recognised as the Action Hero of India” .
Real monster instead of pure CGI
What makes ‘Samuk’ stand apart from recent sci-fi projects is its focus on practical creature effects rather than depending only on CGI or AI-generated visuals .
The alien creature is being designed by Alec Gillis, a legendary Hollywood creature-effects artist. He has worked on the ‘Alien’ and ‘Predator’ franchises, along with ‘Alien: Romulus’ (2024), ‘Smile 2’ (2024), and ‘Tremors’ (1990). He has also received Academy Award recognition for his work .
Gillis revealed that the monster in ‘Samuk’ has been specially designed in collaboration with director Kanishk Varma. “Together Kanishk and I designed the title character, which is truly a unique alien horror. In an era of CGI and AI, it is gratifying that directors and audiences still value handcrafted, human-made traditional monsters,” he said .
An alien nemesis worthy of Akshay Kumar
Gillis also praised the actor’s screen presence, saying: “He has the physicality of Jason Statham and the likeability of Tom Cruise! My goal is to create an alien nemesis in Samuk whose energy and screen charisma equal Mr Kumar’s. Defeating this new classic movie monster will not be an easy task, even for him” .
Inspired by Hollywood classics
Director Kanishk Varma revealed that the idea for ‘Samuk’ was inspired by his fascination with elite security forces and iconic sci-fi horror films. “Survival thrillers like ‘Alien’ and ‘Predator’ are serving as the foundation of the film. I always wanted the creature to feel physically real on set. That old-school tactile horror is what made films like ‘Alien’ timeless,” he said .
Release timeline
‘Samuk’ is expected to go on floors later this year and is positioned as one of the biggest Indian theatrical event films of 2027 . The film aims to blend large-scale action with survival horror and alien thriller elements on an international scale.
With internationally acclaimed stunt and creature specialists onboard, ‘Samuk’ is shaping up as one of the most ambitious Indian sci-fi thrillers in recent years. If executed successfully, it could open an entirely new chapter for Bollywood’s science-fiction storytelling .
