top of page

By:

Bharati Dubey

17 May 2026 at 1:38:10 am

After Don-3 controversy, Ranveer’s next film goes on floors

Mumbai: After months of attention surrounding his reported exit from Don 3, Ranveer Singh has finally moved on to his next major cinematic venture. The actor’s ambitious survival spectacle Pralay has officially gone on floors in Mumbai today, marking the beginning of filming on one of the most ambitious and scale-driven projects in Indian cinema. Headlined by Ranveer Singh and directed by Jai Mehta, Pralay is an original end-of-the-world action thriller that promises to take audiences into a...

After Don-3 controversy, Ranveer’s next film goes on floors

Mumbai: After months of attention surrounding his reported exit from Don 3, Ranveer Singh has finally moved on to his next major cinematic venture. The actor’s ambitious survival spectacle Pralay has officially gone on floors in Mumbai today, marking the beginning of filming on one of the most ambitious and scale-driven projects in Indian cinema. Headlined by Ranveer Singh and directed by Jai Mehta, Pralay is an original end-of-the-world action thriller that promises to take audiences into a world on the brink of annihilation. Produced by Ananya Birla’s Birla Studios, Hansal Mehta and Sahil Saigal’s True Story Films, and Maa Kasam Films, the film combines large-scale spectacle with a deeply human story of survival, courage and the instinct to fight for what matters most. The film marks Ranveer’s next major motion picture following Dhurandhar and Dhurandhar – The Revenge, which emerged as the highest-grossing film of all time. With Pralay, the actor once again ventures into unexplored cinematic territory, taking on a disruptive new concept that demands both physical intensity and emotional conviction. Ranveer will also serve as a producer on the film. The project comes at an important point in the actor’s career. His reported exit from Don 3 had generated considerable buzz, particularly as he was expected to carry forward one of Indian cinema’s most iconic franchises. With Pralay, Ranveer now turns the page with an entirely original story rather than stepping into another established universe. Joining him is Lokah breakout actress Kalyani Priyadarshan, who plays a pivotal role in the film and brings together another exciting performer from the new generation of Indian talent. For Ananya Birla, Pralay represents Birla Studios’ ambition to push the boundaries of mainstream Indian cinema by collaborating with contemporary creative forces. For True Story Films’ Hansal Mehta and Sahil Saigal, the project reflects their commitment to disruptive storytelling and content-driven cinema. Behind the camera, Jai Mehta leads the ambitious project. His work on Scam 1992: The Harshad Mehta Story, which he co-directed with Hansal Mehta, and Lootere has earned widespread acclaim. With Pralay, he steps into a significantly larger canvas, bringing together an ensemble of creative and technical talent from India and around the world. Set against the unmistakable pulse and landscape of Mumbai, Pralay follows a relentless journey of survival against the terrifying possibility of an end-of-the-world catastrophe. The film aims to marry breathtaking spectacle with an emotional core, exploring what people are willing to do to survive when the world as they know it begins to collapse. The makers are shooting extensively at live locations in and around Mumbai, embracing the physicality and unpredictability of real-world environments. The approach is designed to add scale, texture and realism to the apocalyptic world while creating an immersive theatrical experience. The film had already undergone several months of highly technical and intensive pre-production before cameras began rolling. Its ambitious mounting and unusual premise have made Pralay one of the most talked-about upcoming projects in Indian cinema.

AAIB probe points to low visibility as a cause

Preliminary probe report says the visibility at Baramati airport was only 2000 meter against the minimum requirement of 5000 meter

Mumbai: Pointing to a stunning violation of norms, the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has said that visibility at Baramati airport was only 2000 meter when the ill-fated Learjet 45XR plane carrying Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar crashed on January 28. The stipulated visibility rules are minimum 5000 meter for visual landings that must be strictly adhered to.


In its 22-page preliminary report into the air-disaster just minutes prior to landing of the non-scheduled flight carrying VIP, the AAIB said on that day, one of the two temporary Air Control Towers at Baramati – usually manned by ground instructors or students – was being handled by a ground instructor from a nearby flying academy.


When the ill-fated aircraft approached, the pilots asked about visibility they were informed around 3000 meter based on ground markers with calm winds and cleared the flight for landing.


However, the AAIB found that the Meteorological Aerodrome Report (METAR) of Pune that morning showed lowest visibility of 2000 meter from 8.10 am to 8.30 am with clear skies, while satellite images indicated a shallow, patchy fog around Baramati at that time. AAIB also said that all aspects of the plane crash will be investigated to bring out facts, root causes and contributory factors.


Accordingly, the aircraft attempted to land first but did a go-around and then the crew reported sighting Runway 11 and started the second landing approach after clearance.


But, barely seconds later, something went seriously wrong and as corroborated by CCTV footage from a nearby village, the aircraft banked sharply to the right, instead of touching down on the runway, it crashed around 50 meter to the left of Runway 11, at 8.46 am.


The falling aircraft struck several trees before impacting the ground that was lower than the runway surface, it caught a major fire engulfing the cockpit and the cabin where the passengers were and the plane was completely destroyed.


Moments prior to the ground-hit, the radio recordings captured a rattling reaction from the cockpit: “Oh S..t, Oh S...t”, as it plunged to tragedy.


Negative Test

The preflight breathalyser tests for both the Pilot in Command Sumit Kapur and First Officer were negative, as per the records provided by the VSRVPL teams.


The AAIB reiterated that both the onboard recorders – the Digital Flight Data Recorder and the Cockpit Voice Recorder – were retrieved from the usual position in the tail section of the aircraft.


Both the DFDR and CV suffered intense heat damage but the raw data from the DFDR has been retrieved in New Delhi. The CVR, built by Honeywell needs specialised recovery due to the thermal damage and assistance has been sought from the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) in line with global aviation norms.


Attempting to cobble up the fast-paced developments – poor visibility, the missed approach, a repeat landing attempt and the fatal crash - the AAIB has not apportioned any blame nor indicated what exactly went wrong in those final few seconds over the fog-it Baramati runway.


The probe was conducted by a three-member AAIB team led by its Director General, later a 3-member team from DGCA also joined the probe, ordered under the Aircraft (Investigation of Accidents and Incidents) Rules, 2025.


AAIB probe progress and safety counsel

The AAIB has recorded statements of the VSRVPL personnel and other key persons which are being verified against physical and technical evidence.


Crucial documents pertaining to the Learjet 45XR’s airworthiness, operations and flight safety have been seized for scrutiny, the wreckage shifted to a secure location for further investigations after on-site findings were documented.


The NTSB, US, has appointed an accredited representative along with technical advisers to join the probe, and records gathered from multiple stakeholders are under review. The AAIB stated that every aspect of the accident will be examined to establish the facts, identify the root cause and determine contributing factors.


The AAIB has also issued safety recommendations to the DGCA, urging strict enforcement of standard procedures for visual flights operating to uncontrolled airfields.


It has asked aerodrome operators to ensure flights - including private, charter and VIP operations - are permitted only when weather conditions meet prescribed safety norms.


With growing charters, private or VIP flights to such airfields, the AAIB has sought stronger oversight to ensure safety standards are maintained and regularly audited, improving landing aids and basic weather data facilities, plus examining whether such aerodromes should be formally licensed for regulated operations.


What the AAIB said?

“In view of the interim findings brought out so far, it is considered necessary to issue following interim safety recommendations so that necessary preventive actions can be taken promptly to enhance aviation safety. It is recommended that DGCA may issue necessary directions to all operators operating VFR flights to uncontrolled airfields to strictly adhere to the laid down standard operating procedures.”

Comments

bottom of page