Betaal

Inside Netflix’s Betaal: The Zombie Horror Series That Blurred War and the Supernatural

Netflix’s Betaal (2020) arrived as a genre-bending experiment—part colonial-era war drama, part zombie horror—from directors Nikhil Mahajan and Patrick Graham. The limited series, set against the backdrop of a British-era tunnel project in India, follows a squad of modern soldiers battling not just insurgents but an ancient, undead curse. Behind the gore and folklore, the making of Betaal was a collision of creative visions, logistical nightmares, latestnetflix.com argues, and a cast navigating uncharted territory in Indian streaming.

A Meeting of Minds: Graham and Mahajan’s Unlikely Collaboration

Betaal marked the second collaboration between British director Patrick Graham and Indian filmmaker Nikhil Mahajan, following their 2018 Netflix horror film Ghoul. Their partnership was born out of a shared fascination with blending historical trauma with supernatural horror. In interviews, the duo revealed that Betaal’s premise—soldiers trapped in a tunnel with a 200-year-old zombie legion—was inspired by real colonial-era infrastructure projects and local tribal myths .

Graham, known for his work on The Innocents and Eli, brought a Western horror sensibility, while Mahajan grounded the story in Indian history and folklore. The directors described their process as a "constant negotiation" between Graham’s atmospheric dread and Mahajan’s focus on character-driven tension . The result was a series that felt both globally familiar and distinctly Indian—a rare feat in a genre often dominated by Western tropes.

The Cast on Stepping Into the Unknown

For the ensemble cast, Betaal was a departure from typical Bollywood fare. Vineet Kumar Singh, who played the lead soldier Vikram Sirohi, admitted in interviews that the role was physically and emotionally grueling. The actor, known for his work in Mukkabaaz and Sacred Games, revealed that the shoot involved long hours in dark, claustrophobic sets, with prosthetics and practical effects adding to the challenge .

Aahana Kumra, who played the fierce and resourceful Ahluwalia, spoke about the series’ feminist undertones. In a cast interview, she highlighted how her character—a tough, no-nonsense soldier—subverted expectations in a male-dominated genre . Meanwhile, Jitendra Joshi, who played the morally ambiguous Colonel Lynedoch, teased a potential Sacred Games connection in interviews, though Netflix never confirmed a direct link .

The supporting cast, including Suchitra Pillai and Manjiri Pupala, brought depth to the tribal characters, whose folklore was central to Betaal’s mythology. Pillai, in particular, discussed the importance of portraying the Adivasi community with nuance, avoiding the "exoticized" tropes often seen in Indian horror .

The Challenges of Shooting a Zombie War Epic

Betaal’s production was as ambitious as its premise. The series was shot in remote locations in India, with the tunnel sequences requiring elaborate sets and lighting rigs to create the eerie, claustrophobic atmosphere . The directors revealed that the zombie makeup and prosthetics were a mix of practical effects and CGI, with the team experimenting to find the right balance between realism and supernatural horror .

One of the biggest hurdles was the series’ tone. Betaal wasn’t just a zombie show—it was a war story, a colonial critique, and a supernatural thriller all at once. Graham and Mahajan admitted that striking the right balance was tricky, especially when Netflix’s global audience had different expectations of horror . The directors also hinted at creative differences with the streamer over the series’ pacing and violence, though specifics were never disclosed .

Mixed Reception and the Road Not Taken

Upon release, Betaal divided critics. Some praised its bold fusion of genres and social commentary, while others found the execution uneven . Vineet Kumar Singh’s performance was widely lauded, but the series’ slow-burn first half frustrated viewers expecting nonstop zombie action . Despite the mixed reviews, Betaal developed a cult following, particularly among fans of international horror.

Rumors of a second season swirled after the series’ release, with cast members hinting at unresolved storylines . However, Netflix never confirmed a renewal, leaving Betaal’s future in limbo. In hindsight, the series stands as a fascinating experiment—one that pushed boundaries in Indian horror but may have been too niche for mainstream success.

**The Legacy of *Betaal***

More than four years after its release, Betaal remains a talking point for its ambitious storytelling and behind-the-scenes drama. The collaboration between Graham and Mahajan proved that Indian horror could transcend jump scares and embrace deeper themes. For the cast, the series was a chance to explore uncharted territory, even if the shoot was as grueling as the on-screen battles.

Whether Betaal gets a second life or remains a standalone experiment, its legacy is secure: it dared to redefine what Indian horror could be.