The Vvaan: Force of the Forrest Sidharth Malhotra and Tamannaah Bhatia Lead a Folklore Mystery

A mysterious forest, an ancient legend, and a force that appears to exist beyond the ordinary world form the foundation of The Vvaan: Force of the Forest, an upcoming Hindi fantasy thriller starring Sidharth Malhotra and Tamannaah Bhatia.

Directed by Deepak Kumar Mishra, best known for Panchayat, the film ventures into a very different storytelling space from his earlier work. Instead of the grounded rural comedy-drama associated with his popular series, The Vvaan uses folklore, spirituality, romance, and supernatural mystery to create its cinematic world.

The film is currently scheduled for a September 25, 2026 theatrical release.

A Story Rooted in Indian Folklore

The Vvaan is built around the mystery of a forest that local people regard with fear and reverence.

The promotional material introduces a world in which the forest is not simply a geographical location. It appears to be connected with an ancient belief system and a supernatural presence.

The story reportedly draws inspiration from folklore surrounding the Van Devi Temple near Patna. Writer Arunabh Kumar has spoken about visiting the location and hearing stories from people associated with the temple and surrounding area.

Those experiences eventually became the foundation for the film.

That background gives The Vvaan an interesting starting point: rather than adapting a familiar mythological story, the film attempts to transform regional folklore into a contemporary theatrical fantasy.

Sidharth Malhotra at the Centre of the Mystery

Sidharth Malhotra plays the central protagonist, a character whose journey takes him into a world that appears increasingly difficult to explain through conventional logic.

The teaser presents him confronting an unfamiliar force while trying to understand the mystery surrounding the forest.

The character's journey also has an emotional dimension. Beneath the supernatural elements is a story about identity, relationships, and reconnecting with one's roots.

For Malhotra, the film represents another shift in genre. The actor has previously moved between romantic dramas, action films, biographical stories, and thrillers, but The Vvaan places him inside a world dominated by folklore and supernatural mystery.

Tamannaah Bhatia's Character Is Closely Connected to the Story

Tamannaah Bhatia stars opposite Malhotra and appears to have an important connection to the mystery at the heart of the film.

The early promotional material has intentionally kept several details about her character under wraps. Rather than explaining the entire mythology, the teaser uses glimpses of rituals, forests, temples, and supernatural imagery to establish the atmosphere.

The promotional campaign has also highlighted the romantic component of the film through the song “Samjho Na.”

A second song, “Chhathi Maiya,” brings the cultural setting of the story further into focus, incorporating imagery connected with Chhath Puja.

Together, the songs suggest that the film is attempting to balance its fantasy elements with a recognizable cultural environment.

Deepak Kumar Mishra Takes a Different Route After Panchayat

One of the more interesting aspects of The Vvaan is its director.

Deepak Kumar Mishra has been closely associated with Panchayat, the much-loved series created by TVF. That show found its strength in ordinary characters, everyday conflicts, and the social texture of rural India.

The Vvaan moves into considerably more ambitious territory.

The film combines rural and regional settings with visual effects, supernatural mythology, and a larger cinematic scale. The shift demonstrates a different side of Mishra's filmmaking interests.

The challenge will be to ensure that the folklore remains part of the storytelling rather than becoming merely a visual backdrop.

The Forest Is More Than a Setting

The title itself points towards the importance of the natural world in the story.

The promotional imagery repeatedly returns to forests, animals, temples, and religious symbolism. A tiger and Nandi have appeared prominently in the film's promotional artwork, while the teaser hints at a powerful divine presence associated with the forest.

This creates a visual identity that separates The Vvaan from conventional urban horror or supernatural thrillers.

The film appears to be interested in the relationship between people, nature, and belief — and in the possibility that a place can carry a memory or power that cannot easily be explained.

The Role of Religion and Tradition

The inclusion of Chhath Puja is another important element.

The song “Chhathi Maiya” brings the festival into the film's world and gives the story a distinctly regional cultural identity.

Rather than treating Indian traditions simply as decorative elements, the film's promotional campaign suggests that faith and local customs are connected to the larger narrative.

This could become one of the film's strongest features if the traditions are integrated organically into the story.

Who is in The Vvaan?

The principal promotional material identifies:

• Sidharth Malhotra

• Tamannaah Bhatia

• Sunil Grover

• Maniesh Paul

• Shweta Tiwari

• Anup Soni

The film is directed by Deepak Kumar Mishra and written by Arunabh Kumar.

It is presented by Balaji Motion Pictures in association with TVF and 11:11 Production.

The production team includes Shobha Kapoor, Ektaa R Kapoor, Arunabh Kumar, and Niraj Kothari.

What About Sara Ali Khan?

Some publicly available entertainment databases have listed Sara Ali Khan in connection with The Vvaan.

However, her participation and specific role have not been clearly established in the official promotional material examined for this report.

The Celebrity Hour therefore does not treat Sara Ali Khan's involvement as a confirmed principal-cast detail at this stage.

That distinction is important because casting databases can sometimes be updated before studios make formal announcements, while promotional credits provide a more reliable indication of the cast being officially presented to audiences.

When Will The Vvaan Release?

The film is currently scheduled to reach theatres on September 25, 2026.

The date is significant because the project has already begun its promotional campaign through its teaser and music releases.

The supplied date of September 22, 2026 does not match the current release information available from the film's promotional campaign and established reporting. The September 25 date should therefore be used for publication unless the makers subsequently announce another change.

Why The Vvaan Could Stand Out

Hindi cinema has frequently explored mythology and supernatural storytelling, but The Vvaan is taking a somewhat different route by placing a regional folk tradition at the centre of its fictional world.

The use of the Van Devi folklore, combined with the forest setting and references to Chhath, gives the project a cultural foundation that could make it visually and thematically distinctive.

The casting also creates an interesting contrast. Malhotra brings the profile of a mainstream Hindi-film leading man, while Mishra's previous work is strongly associated with grounded storytelling.

Whether the combination works will ultimately depend on the screenplay and how convincingly the film connects its emotional story with its supernatural mythology.

The Celebrity Hour Take

The biggest curiosity surrounding The Vvaan: Force of the Forest is the decision to turn relatively local folklore into a mainstream theatrical fantasy.

That approach has potential because Indian folklore contains countless stories that have rarely been explored on a large cinematic scale. The film's success will depend on whether it treats that material with enough depth rather than reducing it to familiar supernatural tropes.

For Sidharth Malhotra and Tamannaah Bhatia, the film also offers an opportunity to step into a world that is considerably different from their more familiar screen territory.

The Vvaan therefore arrives with two separate expectations: it has to work as an engaging thriller while also establishing a believable folklore universe of its own.

The film is presently scheduled to release in cinemas on September 25, 2026.

Sources & Verification

This article was independently researched using the film's available promotional material, teaser and music campaign, filmmaker-related statements, and established entertainment coverage. Release information, production details, and the publicly promoted cast were cross-checked across available sources.

The September 25 release date has been used instead of the September 22 date supplied in the original brief because current promotional and media information supports September 25. Sara Ali Khan's reported association with the project has been treated separately because her role is not clearly established in the official promotional material reviewed.