Ranveer Singh To Play Lord Shiva In ‘The Immortals Of Meluha’ Trilogy; Partners With Ananya Birla’s Birla Studios For Mega Project
Ranveer Singh is set to embody one of India’s most revered mythological figures, Lord Shiva, in an ambitious screen adaptation of Amish Tripathi’s bestselling novel The Immortals of Meluha. In a major development that has sent ripples through the industry, the actor has partnered with Ananya Birla’s Birla Studios to mount the project as a large-scale trilogy. The announcement positions The Immortals of Meluha as one of the biggest homegrown IPs currently in development, combining Ranveer’s pan-India star power with Birla Studios’ vision to create globally competitive Indian franchises. As per Pinkvilla reports, the project confirm that the deal was signed earlier this month after months of discussions between Ranveer’s team and Ananya Birla, who will serve as creative producer on the trilogy.
The partnership marks Birla Studios’ most high-profile foray into tentpole filmmaking since its inception. Ananya Birla, who has been steadily building the studio’s slate with a focus on culturally rooted, VFX-heavy narratives, called the collaboration a “dream alignment of vision and scale.” While Birla Studios will finance and produce the trilogy, Ranveer Singh is coming on board not just as lead actor but also as a creative partner, with significant input on script, casting, and overall world-building. This hands-on approach signals Ranveer’s intent to shape the franchise beyond performance, especially after his recent success with Dhurandhar Franchise and the critical acclaim for Singham Again. Insiders reveal that the actor was drawn to the philosophical depth and humanization of Shiva in Amish’s Shiva Trilogy, which reimagines the deity as a Tibetan tribal leader destined for greatness.
Script work is currently underway, with Ranveer and Ananya Birla personally supervising the writing team to adapt Amish Tripathi’s dense, layered novel for the screen. The goal, according to a source, is to retain the book’s core themes of karma, dharma, and leadership while creating a cinematic universe that appeals to both Indian and global audiences. Given the scale, the team is treating the screenplay as the foundation before locking other key elements. The director for The Immortals of Meluha will be finalized only once the creative team of Ranveer Singh and Ananya Birla complete the script work. The makers are reportedly eyeing top names who have experience with large-canvas storytelling and VFX integration, with an announcement expected by early 2027. Pre-visualization and concept art development have already begun in parallel to map the world of Meluha.
For Ranveer Singh, playing Lord Shiva represents a transformative challenge and a potential career-defining role. Known for his chameleon-like transformations in Padmaavat, Bajirao Mastani, and Gully Boy, the actor will undergo extensive physical and dialect training to portray Shiva’s journey from a tribal chieftain to the Mahadev. The trilogy will span The Immortals of Meluha, The Secret of the Nagas, and The Oath of the Vayuputras, tracing Shiva’s evolution across years. Industry analysts note that this is Ranveer’s first full-fledged mythological project, a genre that has seen renewed box office success with films like Brahmāstra, Adipurush, and Kalki 2898 AD. His casting ensures instant pan-India traction, crucial for recouping the trilogy’s estimated ₹600+ crore budget.
The project also underscores a larger shift in Indian cinema toward franchise-building from literature. Amish Tripathi’s Shiva Trilogy has sold over 6 million copies since 2010 and has a built-in fanbase across age groups. Birla Studios aims to leverage that recall while expanding the narrative through cutting-edge VFX, international technicians, and a release strategy that includes IMAX and 3D formats. With Ranveer Singh as Shiva and Birla Studios’ backing, The Immortals of Meluha is being positioned as India’s answer to global mythological universes like Lord of the Rings or Game of Thrones, but rooted in Indic philosophy. The first part is targeting a 2028 release, with principal photography expected to begin late 2027 once a director is on board and pre-production is complete. For now, all eyes are on the script the blueprint that will decide if this Meluha truly becomes immortal on screen.
