Kangana Ranaut to Make Hollywood Debut with Horror-Drama

Four-time National Award-winning actor Kangana Ranaut is making her Hollywood debut as the lead in Blessed Be the Evil, a horror drama set to begin filming in New York this summer, reveals a report by Variety. The project sees Ranaut co-starring with Teen Wolf alum Tyler Posey and Scarlet Rose Stallone, daughter of action icon Sylvester Stallone.

Produced by Lions Movies, the film is being strategically shot in the United States — a move that, as producers noted, sidesteps potential disruptions tied to recently announced Trump-era industry tariffs. While the decision has financial implications, it also ensures smoother access to global film markets, especially as the project heads to the upcoming Cannes Film Market for international sales.

The film is directed by Anurag Rudra, known for New Me and the award-winning Tailing Pond, who also co-wrote the script with Lions Movies founder and president Gatha Tiwary. The pair will also serve as producers on the film, which tells the story of a Christian couple grappling with grief after a miscarriage. Seeking solace, they move to a remote farm — only to find themselves confronting a dark presence that tests both their faith and love.

Drawing on the haunting folklore of his childhood in rural India, Rudra says the film is a personal passion project. “This folklore was so special that I truly believed in all the stories, and wanted to showcase them internationally through the art of cinema — the strongest and most beautiful way to connect to dreams and reality,” he shared.

For Ranaut, the role marks a significant crossover moment. The actor-filmmaker-politician — who also serves as a Member of Parliament in India’s Lok Sabha — recently released her directorial venture Emergency, in which she portrayed Indira Gandhi. The film had a global theatrical run earlier this year.

With cinematography by Wade Muller (Elephant White, Occupation: Rainfall), and casting by London/Stroud, Blessed Be the Evil is shaping up to be a genre piece with potential commercial ambition. Lions Movies is concurrently developing American Import, a crime saga exploring themes of family, ambition and moral decay.