Acclaimed filmmaker Hansal Mehta has officially announced his next project—Black River, a gripping crime drama featuring Bollywood actor Saif Ali Khan in the lead role. The film is an adaptation of Nilanjana Roy’s critically acclaimed 2022 novel of the same name, a murder mystery set in the fictional village of Teetarpur near Delhi.
Confirming the news on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), Roy wrote, “It be official! Thrilled (and thank you, Saif and @mehtahansal, for your faith in Black River),” as she reshared a post about the collaboration. The project is currently in its early development stages, with Mehta and his team working on adapting the novel’s complex themes into a compelling screenplay. Production is slated to begin by mid-2026.
It be official! Thrilled (and thank you, Saif and @mehtahansal, for your faith in Black River). 🎞️📽️ https://t.co/jOdoaNLQFM
— Nilanjana Roy 📚🦊 (@nilanjanaroy) April 7, 2025
Black River centres around the chilling murder of an eight-year-old girl named Munia and unfolds in a deeply textured world marked by love, loss, and justice. The narrative not only delves into the personal grief of those affected but also brings forth broader societal issues including vigilante justice, religious discrimination, political manipulation, and ecological decay.
This collaboration marks an exciting addition to Hansal Mehta’s impressive repertoire of socially driven narratives. For Saif Ali Khan, Black River comes at a time when the actor is embracing diverse roles across genres and industries. He is presently involved in the scripting phase of Race 4. He was recently seen in the Telugu action-fantasy epic Devara: Part 1, and is preparing for the release of Jewel Thief: The Heist Begins, co-starring Jaideep Ahlawat, which is set to stream on Netflix later this year.
As anticipation builds for this powerful collaboration between Mehta and Khan, Black River promises to deliver a gritty, thought-provoking cinematic experience that resonates with today’s audience—blending mystery with social realism in true Hansal Mehta style.
