True Story Films, a boutique production company launched by filmmaker Hansal Mehta and producer Sahil Saigal in January 2025, is active in a wide range of fields, from Bollywood spectacles to regional language films to AI-powered food series.
The two revealed several new projects to Variety. This includes ‘Porbandar’, a big action film directed by Mehta himself. Kehar Singh is the next film directed by Ajitpal Singh. And “Mehfooz” is a cannibalistic horror project that has already established a studio and is currently looking for a director. They also revealed new details about Ranveer Singh’s post-apocalyptic thriller Pralay, which is currently in pre-production.
The company is currently working on the romantic musical ‘Dilkashi’, directed by Lijo Jose Pellissery, which marks the Hindi debut of the filmmaker from the Malayalam industry. The project is being done in collaboration with Amazon MGM Studios and will feature songs by AR Rahman and introduce a new female protagonist whose identity has not been revealed. Mehta describes the film as a love story told in Pellissery’s unique style.
Directed by Hansal Mehta’s son Hai Mehta, Pralay stars Ranveer Singh and is being described as a post-apocalyptic zombie survival thriller unlike anything Indian cinema has attempted before. The film is being co-produced with Singh’s own production company Maa Kasam Films. Mehta has been tight-lipped about the details of his plans, but he has emphasized his ambitions. “This is the kind of film that India has not yet made, the kind of film that India has never seen before,” he says. An international crew with extensive experience has been assembled, and filming is scheduled to begin later this year.
Among the newly released titles, ‘Porbandar’, named after the coastal city of Gujarat where Mahatma Gandhi was born, is described as a large-scale violent action film set in deliberate contrast to the Mahatma’s legacy. “On one side you have the Mahatma of Porbandar and on the other side you have this action actor,” says Mehta. A studio deal is almost complete for the project, which will be directed by Mehta himself.
‘Kehar Singh’ from Sundance selection ‘Fire in the Mountains’ director Ajitpal Singh is being described as a spectacle film and further details will be revealed at a later stage.
Cannibal horror title Mehfooz has completed the development stage and has an attached studio, but is still looking for a director. The project reflects True Story Films’ core model of investing heavily in development before hiring a director. Mehta said this approach was also applied to “Dilkasi,” where the script was developed and shaped before Pellissery came on board to add his own spin. “We invest money in the development of the film, get everything in place before pitching it to the studio, and then bring in the director,” he says.
On the regional language front, True Story Films is producing the Gujarati film ‘Sardaar Asardaar’ directed by Mehta’s long-time associate director Rishabh Gehlani. The film focuses on a particular chapter in the life of Vallabhbhai Patel, India’s freedom fighter and the country’s first Home Minister and Deputy Prime Minister, before he was given the title of Sardar. “This is the story of the making of Sardar,” Mehta says, adding that he feels a strong personal and creative obligation to uplift Gujarati cinema. The company is also producing the Punjabi independent film ‘Hanere De Panch’ (Bird in the Dark), directed by cinematographer Shashank Walia. The film tells the story of a disillusioned police officer and an accused man who find unexpected love during the height of the agricultural revolution.
True Story Films is also co-producing the upcoming film Tongues of the Tree, directed by Shonali Bose and starring Pratik Gandhi.
On the television side, the company is co-producing the Netflix series Family Business with Abundantia Entertainment, with a second series in the works.
Mehta is also currently working on his AI-powered cooking series Rasooi, which explores Indian kitchens and regional cuisine, with chefs working as behind-the-scenes collaborators rather than on-camera talent. The show will be produced independently before being licensed to the platform.
Saigal said he worked in the hospitality industry in London for six years and trained in hotel management in Switzerland before turning to filmmaking. The company’s ethos is rooted in supporting work that truly excites them. “The aim is to tell stories that we really, really like and that resonate with us,” he says. “We position ourselves as a boutique production company.” Saigal has been producing Mehta’s films since his film Faraaz.
Describing True Story Films’ broader philosophy, Mehta says the company is built around a people-first approach, investing in writers’ rooms and development before projects go to market, giving directors both creative and financial peace of mind. “This is a talent-first production company,” he says. “The bulk of our investments are in people and technology.”
Reflecting on the resurgence of Hindi cinema after a difficult 2024 and a strong 2025, Mehta points to boldness as the defining quality of films that have connected with audiences. He cites “Durandal” as a model. This is a two-chapter story that defies traditional structure, with the main character barely coming to the fore until halfway through. “Boldness wins. You have to be bold. You have to be outrageous,” he says. “It’s sheer boldness in telling the story, boldness in story choices, boldness in character choices. I think that’s exactly what we’re doing. We’re trying to be as bold as possible in our choices and not playing the safe game, because safety is always uncertain.”
