A Halloween announcement at HorrorCon India 2026 has brought together three names from Indian cinema. Rana Daggubati has unveiled Scary Picture, a Hindi horror film starring Kangana Ranaut and directed by Telugu filmmaker Ravi Babu. The reveal gives the project a launch story beyond its casting and genre. Rana Daggubati stressed that the announcement had not been shared with the mainstream Hindi press, making the convention audience the first to hear the news directly.
The announcement also marks a career milestone for Ravi Babu. He has directed Telugu films since 2002 and explored the horror genre in several projects, but Scary Picture will mark his Hindi directorial debut. Daggubati introduced him as a friend and described him as a filmmaker who has made multiple Telugu horror films. “The title is announced here first. It went to no Hindi press; this is the first time we’re putting the intimation up,” he said.
Ravi Babu has built a career around unusual stories, moving between thrillers, comedy and horror. His filmography includes Telugu titles such as Anasuya and Avunu, reflecting his interest in suspense and fear. With Scary Picture, he will bring that experience to a new audience through his first Hindi directorial venture.
Ravi Babu is also the son of the late veteran Telugu actor Chalapathi Rao, whose long career made him a familiar presence in Telugu cinema. That legacy adds another connection to the industry in which Ravi Babu developed his craft. The Hindi project gives him an opportunity to take his filmmaking beyond his home industry.
For Kangana Ranaut, Scary Picture marks a return to Hindi horror after Raaz: The Mystery Continues, released in 2009. Her performance in the supernatural thriller remains a notable genre role from her early career, making the gap of around 17 years a point of interest. However, this is not her return to horror altogether, as she also appeared in the Tamil horror comedy Chandramukhi 2 in 2023. Instead, Scary Picture brings her back to a Hindi horror project after a long interval.
The casting also creates a full-circle Telugu connection. Kangana Ranaut made her Telugu film debut in 2009 with Ek Niranjan, starring alongside Prabhas. Seventeen years later, she is collaborating with another prominent name from the Telugu industry, Rana Daggubati, but this time on a Hindi film. Daggubati is producing the project, while Ravi Babu brings his Telugu filmmaking experience to the director’s chair. It brings together talent with regional roots in a different language and genre.
The project also contrasts with Kangana Ranaut’s recent screen role in Bharat Bhhagya Viddhaata. She portrays senior nurse Geeta Madhav Gandhare, whose story unfolds during the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks at Cama and Albless Hospital. The drama highlights the courage of nurses and hospital staff during the crisis, placing Ranaut in a role inspired by real-life events.
With Scary Picture, she moves from that account of real courage to a fictional horror setting. The change in genre is striking, while the combination of a Hindi star, a Telugu filmmaker and a producer-actor with deep roots in southern cinema gives the announcement a distinct industry angle.
For now, the title, genre, lead actor, director and producer are the key details revealed at HorrorCon India and through Kangana Ranaut’s social media acknowledgement. Further information about the plot, supporting cast, production schedule and release date has not yet been announced. The first reveal may have taken place away from the Hindi press circuit, but it has given Scary Picture a clear starting point: a Hindi directorial debut for Ravi Babu and a fresh horror outing for Kangana Ranaut.
