Bollywood has never been shy about genre experimentation, and IIZ: Indian Institute of Zombies arrives as one of the most audacious genre mashups of 2026 — blending zombie horror with campus comedy in a way that is uniquely, unmistakably desi. With a stellar ensemble cast, a sharp satirical premise, and enough chaotic energy to power a Tekfest, IIZ is a refreshing theatrical experience that horror-comedy fans simply cannot afford to miss this weekend.
IIZ: Indian Institute of Zombies is a Hindi horror-comedy released theatrically on 15 May 2026, with a runtime of 2 hours 17 minutes. Certified A (Adults Only), the film follows a band of college backbenchers who must stop a zombie apocalypse unleashed at their engineering institute’s annual fest. Directed by Gaganjeet Singh and Alok Dwivedi and featuring a lively ensemble led by Anupriya Goenka and Mohan Kapur, IIZ is a bold, entertaining desi zom-com that blends campus satire with genre chaos.
Cast & Crew
| Role | Name |
|---|---|
| Director | Gaganjeet Singh & Alok Dwivedi |
| Writers | Kunj Sanghvi, Hussain Dalal, Abbas Dalal, Siddharth Kumar, Husain Hardawala |
| Prof. Breganza | Anupriya Goenka |
| Dr. Darwendra | Mohan Kapur |
| Rambo | Sachin Kavetham |
| Haggu | Tanishq Chaudhary |
| Virat Sharma | Shiva Brijrani |
| Bhim Bhayankar | Jesse Lever |
| Kiran | Rose Sardana |
| Kitaab Shivdasani | Ranjan Raj |
| Brutus (Pet Zombie) | Subhash Ahirwar |
| Prof. Mayalalitha (Zombie) | Bidisha Ghosh Sharma |
Plot Summary
At the prestigious Indian Institute of Innovation, Dr. Darwendra (Mohan Kapur) — a rogue scientist with grand ambitions — lures the college’s star students to Tekfest 2026 with a potion that promises superhuman abilities. The catch? It turns every consumer into a flesh-eating zombie. While the toppers succumb to the nectar, a ragtag band of backbenchers — who skipped the fest entirely — becomes humanity’s last line of defence. Led by the spirited Professor Breganza (Anupriya Goenka), misfits Rambo, Haggu, Virat, and Bhim Bhayankar, alongside brainy Kitaab and the brave Kiran, must use every trick in the college rulebook — attendance sheets, vivas, and street performances — to stop a zombie apocalypse before it swallows the city.
Performances
Anupriya Goenka as Prof. Breganza
Anupriya Goenka is the heart and soul of IIZ. Her portrayal of the unconventional, gutsy professor who rallies her misfit students is grounded, charismatic, and deeply entertaining. She brings warmth and authority to the screen in equal measure, making Prof. Breganza one of the most memorable characters in recent Bollywood horror-comedy.
Mohan Kapur as Dr. Darwendra
Mohan Kapur chews scenery delightfully as the film’s eccentric antagonist. He brings just the right degree of menace and absurdity to Dr. Darwendra, making him a villain you love to watch. His comic timing is impeccable, and his scenes crackle with energy.
Sachin Kavetham, Tanishq Chaudhary & Shiva Brijrani
This trio is pitch-perfect as the quintessential ne’er-do-well backbenchers. Sachin Kavetham brings a likable roguishness to Rambo, Tanishq Chaudhary is a natural scene-stealer as Haggu, and Shiva Brijrani holds his own with confident, effortless comic flair. Together, they create a chemistry that anchors the film’s most enjoyable sequences.
Ranjan Raj as Kitaab Shivdasani
Ranjan Raj shines as the resident nerd who is unexpectedly essential to the survival plan. His comic sensibility and endearing sincerity make Kitaab a standout character, and his dynamic with Subhash Ahirwar’s zombie Brutus provides some of the film’s most amusing moments.
Subhash Ahirwar as Brutus
Subhash Ahirwar deserves special mention for his physical performance as Brutus, the backbenchers’ pet zombie. It is a demanding, dialogue-free role that he pulls off with remarkable expression and timing, earning every laugh the character generates.
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Jesse Lever, Rose Sardana & Bidisha Ghosh Sharma
Jesse Lever’s Bhim Bhayankar brings boisterous energy and big laughs to the ensemble. Rose Sardana is impressive as Kiran, delivering a performance that is both plucky and emotionally resonant. Bidisha Ghosh Sharma’s turn as the zombie professor Mayalalitha is gleefully unhinged and absolutely delightful.
Technical Craft
Direction
Gaganjeet Singh and Alok Dwivedi bring an ambitious vision to IIZ, deftly blending two genres that rarely coexist in Indian cinema. Their direction keeps the film’s energy high and their staging of the campus chaos is inventive, even if certain sequences could benefit from tighter pacing. The satirical subtext — equating academic rat-race culture with zombie-like conformity — is a genuinely clever directorial choice that elevates the material.
Writing
The five-member writing team of Kunj Sanghvi, Hussain Dalal, Abbas Dalal, Siddharth Kumar, and Husain Hardawala has crafted a premise brimming with comic potential. The concept of using college tools — vivas, attendance registers, and street plays — as anti-zombie weapons is inspired writing, and the satirical commentary on India’s education system gives the film surprising intellectual depth beneath its slapstick surface.
Cinematography & Visual Effects
The campus setting is used creatively and the visual palette suits the genre nicely. The VFX and zombie make-up, while not Hollywood-grade, are serviceable for a Bollywood production of this scale and contribute effectively to the film’s tone. The zombie sequences are energetically staged and maintain a sense of fun rather than genuine dread — entirely appropriate for the genre.
Music & Sound Design
The soundtrack adds considerable personality to IIZ, with the redux of the classic Maar Daala being a particularly inspired needle-drop that blends nostalgia with zom-com absurdity. The background score keeps the film’s tempo brisk and complements its genre-hopping ambitions well.
Editing
At 2 hours 17 minutes, the film is paced largely well for its genre, with the editing keeping the comic set-pieces and horror sequences in entertaining balance. A few tracks do stretch slightly longer than necessary, but the overall rhythm remains engaging enough to hold attention through to the climax.\
Strengths & Weaknesses
Strengths
- Brilliantly original premise — backbenchers vs. zombie toppers is a concept Bollywood has never attempted before
- Strong, memorable ensemble with standout turns from Anupriya Goenka, Mohan Kapur, and Ranjan Raj
- Sharp satirical commentary on India’s education system and student culture
- Inventive use of college tropes (vivas, attendance, campus events) as comic survival tools
- Energetic direction that keeps the film’s zom-com chaos consistently engaging
- Fun, well-chosen music including the crowd-pleasing Maar Daala redux
Weaknesses
- Some sequences run slightly longer than needed, affecting pacing in the second half
- VFX and zombie make-up are inconsistent in places
- The large ensemble means a few characters get less screen time than they deserve
Final Verdict: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4/5
IIZ: Indian Institute of Zombies is exactly the kind of bold, unapologetically desi genre experiment that Bollywood needs more of. With a premise that cleverly skewers India’s academic culture through a zombie apocalypse lens, an energetic ensemble that commits fully to the madness, and enough genuinely inventive comedy to keep audiences thoroughly entertained, IIZ earns its place as one of the most entertaining theatrical releases of 2026. It is chaotic, irreverent, and wildly fun — a proper masala zom-com with a brain (and an appetite to match).
What is the age rating of IIZ: Indian Institute of Zombies?
IIZ: Indian Institute of Zombies is rated A, meaning it is certified for adult audiences only.
Can we watch IIZ: Indian Institute of Zombies with kids?
Given its A certification and horror-comedy content featuring zombie sequences and adult humour, IIZ: Indian Institute of Zombies is not recommended for children.
Is IIZ: Indian Institute of Zombies based on a true story?
No, IIZ: Indian Institute of Zombies is a work of fiction.
