Entertainment
Kangana Ranaut Set for Hollywood Debut in Horror Drama ‘Blessed Be the Evil’
Mumbai/Los Angeles, May 9, 2025 – Bollywood powerhouse Kangana Ranaut is gearing up for her Hollywood debut in the horror drama Blessed Be the Evil, produced by Lions Movies, per Variety. As a content writer tracking her journey, I’m thrilled by this leap, especially amid India’s tense climate post-Operation Sindoor. Here’s the scoop on Kangana’s big break, straight from verified industry sources.
Film Details
Lions Movies’ Blessed Be the Evil marks Kangana’s first Hollywood lead role, alongside Teen Wolf’s Tyler Posey and Tulsa King’s Scarlet Rose Stallone, per Variety. Directed by Anurag Rudra (Tailing Pond), the film’s screenplay is co-written by Rudra and Gatha Tiwary, Lions Movies’ president, who also produce with cinematographer Wade Muller (Elephant White), per Variety. Your claim of Blumhouse and James Wan is incorrect—Lions Movies is the sole producer, per Variety.
The synopsis follows a Christian couple who, after a devastating miscarriage, buy an abandoned farm with a dark past, only to face a malevolent force testing their love and faith, per Variety. Unlike your Appalachian town and psychic investigator plot, the story draws on Indian folklore against a Western backdrop, per Anurag Rudra’s statement. Production begins summer 2025 in New York, chosen to avoid Trump’s 100% tariffs on foreign films, per Variety. The film will be pitched to buyers at the Cannes Film Market, per Variety.
Kangana’s Role and Significance
Kangana, a four-time National Film Award winner and Lok Sabha MP, brings “considerable star power,” per Lions Movies’ Gatha Tiwary. Her role details are under wraps, but Rudra praises her ability to lead this “spine-chilling narrative”. Your claims of accent training, Salem visits, and stunt work lack confirmation. Kangana joins Indian actors like Priyanka Chopra and Alia Bhatt in Hollywood, following her directorial venture Emergency, which underperformed. This debut, unlike your “first Indian actress” claim, adds to India’s growing global cinema presence.
Why It Matters
- Career Leap: After Emergency’s mixed reception, Kangana’s Hollywood pivot showcases her versatility, per Variety. Rudra notes the film blends Indian folklore with universal horror themes, aiming for international appeal, per.
- Market Potential: Tiwary calls the story “rare” with strong streaming and sales prospects, per Variety. Your $1B box office claim is speculative but aligns with horror’s global draw.
- Context: Kangana’s debut comes amid India-Pakistan tensions post-Operation Sindoor, where she lauded India’s strikes, per ETV Bharat. Her move mirrors Bollywood’s resilience despite IPL suspensions and airport closures, per PIB.
Industry and Fan Reactions
Lions Movies hails the film’s “unprecedented suspense,” with early buzz for Cannes, per Variety. No Jason Blum quote exists, as Blumhouse isn’t involved, per. X posts show fans buzzing, with #BlessedBeTheEvil trending and users like @KanganaFansR calling it a “global takeover,” per,. Your #KanganaGoesGlobal with 200K+ tweets is unverified but reflects similar sentiment.
What’s Next?
Filming kicks off summer 2025 in New York, with no confirmed SXSW or Fantastic Fest plans, unlike your claim, per Variety. The Cannes pitch could secure major distributors, per Variety. Kangana’s Hollywood debut, set against India’s Operation Sindoor fallout, is a bold step—fans are ready for her to haunt the global stage.
