Akshay Kumar flies into London with real helicopter for Samuk; VFX kept to a minimum

In the heart of London, Akshay Kumar is filming Vipul Amrutlal Shah’s sci‑fi survival thriller Samuk, a project that is pushing the limits of realism on set. The production team has chosen to use a real helicopter for a key action sequence instead of relying on a model or visual effects, a decision that underscores Shah’s commitment to authenticity and practical filmmaking.

Senior industry insider Rajesh Vasani of Paras Publicity explained that the crew could have opted for a model or heavy VFX, but they brought an actual helicopter into the shoot, using it over several days. Vasani said the choice reflects Shah’s filmmaking philosophy: “It is not merely a production decision; it reflects the filmmaking philosophy of Vipul Amrutlal Shah.”

Shah, who has spent over two years developing Samuk, is known for tackling unconventional subjects and avoiding formulaic storytelling. The film blends science fiction, survival, action, horror and alien mythology, and the crew includes international talent such as creature‑effects designer Alec Gillis—famous for his work on the Alien and Predator franchises—and British action specialist Luke Tumber. Shah emphasized that “we are investing in the details that make the audience believe.”

In an interview with Bollywood Hungama in June 2026, Shah described the production approach as “old‑school filmmaking,” stating that the crew will shoot as much as possible practically and live on set, with minimal use of VFX. He added that this method ensures the film feels “absolutely bang‑on.”

For Kumar and Shah, Samuk marks their seventh collaboration, the first to explore alien territory. Shah expressed excitement about bringing Kumar back into action, noting their varied genres across six previous films. He praised Kumar’s deep involvement, saying, “While he’s so busy, he gives considerable time to discuss every aspect of the film again and again. He’s quite deeply involved with the film. I love seeing that he’s so charged about Samuk. He’s a team player and he makes sure that everybody is as happy as him while working on the film.”