Akshay Kumar is heading into unfamiliar territory with Samuk.
The actor has officially begun shooting for the upcoming alien survival action thriller, with filming now underway in London. Akshay announced the start of the shoot by introducing his character, Vivaan Ahuja, with a simple message: new genre, new character, new challenge.
And this one does look quite different from his usual action outings.
Meet Vivaan Ahuja
Akshay has not revealed much about Vivaan Ahuja yet, but the first glimpse gives us a very polished introduction.
The actor appears clean shaven in a sharp suit and sunglasses, looking calm and composed as he walks towards the camera. It is a far cry from the rugged survival setting the film is expected to eventually throw him into.
That contrast already makes the character interesting.
We know Samuk revolves around a man versus alien conflict, with military action, survival horror and creature driven tension forming the larger world of the film. Exactly where Vivaan fits into that setup is still being kept under wraps.
What Is Samuk About?
Samuk is being mounted as a large scale theatrical thriller built around an alien encounter.
The project has been in development for more than two years and is being directed by Kanishk Varma, whose previous work includes Sanak, Inside Edge Season 3, Shoorveer and FootFairy.
The idea is to combine physical action with creature based suspense rather than depend entirely on computer generated spectacle.
That is probably the most interesting part of the project.
Producer Vipul Amrutlal Shah has said the team wants to shoot as much as possible practically, with limited use of VFX. That means real sets, physical creature work and action designed to happen in front of the camera wherever possible.
A Serious International Team Is Working on the Alien
The creature itself is getting some impressive Hollywood expertise.
Alec Gillis, the Academy Award nominated creature effects artist associated with films from the Alien and Predatorfranchises, has designed the central alien for Samuk.
British action director Luke Tumber is handling the action sequences. His previous credits include Mission: Impossible Dead Reckoning Part One and Venom: The Last Dance.
That combination suggests the makers are taking the physical world of the film seriously rather than treating the creature as something to simply add later in post production.
Akshay Kumar and Vipul Shah Reunite
Samuk also brings Akshay Kumar back together with Vipul Amrutlal Shah.
The two have previously collaborated on films including Aankhen, Waqt, Namastey London and Action Replayy, and Samuk marks their seventh project together.
Shah has described the film as one of their biggest challenges yet, particularly because of the scale and technical demands involved.
The movie is being produced by Vipul Amrutlal Shah, with Aashin A. Shah as co producer.
Most of Samuk Will Be Shot in the UK
Filming began in London on August 23, 2026, and reports suggest that around 90 percent of the movie will be shot across the UK, with additional portions planned in Mumbai.
The production is expected to continue largely through one extended schedule.
A theatrical release is currently being planned for 2027, although an exact date has not yet been announced.
For Akshay, Samuk is an interesting move simply because we have rarely seen him in this kind of world.
Action is familiar territory. Aliens definitely are not. And with Vivaan Ahuja now officially reporting for duty, Samuk has become one of his more curious upcoming films to watch.