Aditya Dhar, the director currently celebrating the blockbuster success of Ranveer Singh's Dhurandhar, has opened up about the shelving of his ambitious dream project, The Immortal Ashwatthama. The mythological superhero film, which was to star Vicky Kaushal, was put on indefinite hold due to significant budgetary and technological constraints.
The Dream Project That Couldn't Take Flight
Fresh off the monumental success of his debut film, Uri: The Surgical Strike in 2019, Aditya Dhar envisioned a project that would redefine Indian cinema. His dream was The Immortal Ashwatthama, a high-concept mythological action film based on the cursed immortal warrior from the Mahabharata. The film was officially announced on 11 January 2021 with Vicky Kaushal attached to play the lead role.
Backed by Ronnie Screwvala's RSVP, the production house behind Uri, the project promised a grand visual spectacle. Kaushal had reportedly begun intensive physical training for the role. The announcement posters hinted at a massive scale, with Dhar proclaiming the film would "raise the bar higher for the superhero genre not only in India but across the world."
Why The Immortal Ashwatthama Was Shelved
Despite the initial excitement, the project soon went quiet, leading to widespread speculation about its status. Reports surfaced about funding issues, with Ronnie Screwvala potentially stepping away and Dhar exploring a collaboration with Jio Studios. Rumours also swirled about casting changes, including Sara Ali Khan being replaced by Samantha Ruth Prabhu, and concerns over Vicky Kaushal's bankability for such an expensive venture.
Aditya Dhar finally addressed the speculation head-on. Speaking at the trailer launch of Article 370, he confirmed the film had been put on the backburner. "The kind of vision we all had for that, it was too big to work for Indian cinema," Dhar stated candidly. He elaborated that the level of VFX quality they aspired to achieve was unprecedented and currently unfeasible within the existing infrastructure and budget constraints of the Indian film industry.
Drawing a parallel to James Cameron's long gestation for Avatar, Dhar explained his philosophy: "I can’t make it for the heck of it. Even if it takes five years of my prime time, the film has to be brilliant." He emphasized that a film remains for posterity and must strive for excellence, not just commercial success.
Dhurandhar's Success and Future Prospects
The shelving of The Immortal Ashwatthama makes the success of Dhurandhar even more significant for Aditya Dhar. The gangster saga, starring Ranveer Singh, has emerged as a major box office hit in an otherwise slow year for Bollywood tentpoles. The film has grossed a staggering Rs 437.25 crore nett in India and is poised to enter the Rs 500 crore club, reaffirming Ranveer Singh's star power and Dhar's directorial prowess.
Looking ahead, the landscape for mythological epics is evolving rapidly. With projects like Nitesh Tiwari's Ramayan and SS Rajamouli's Varanasi in the pipeline, the market and technology are catching up with ambitious visions. Dhar's success with Dhurandhar also strengthens his position to potentially revive his dream project when the time is right.
For now, the filmmaker is channeling his energy into Dhurandhar: Part 2, slated for an Eid 2026 release. The first installment featured an ensemble cast including Akshaye Khanna, Arjun Rampal, Sanjay Dutt, and Sara Arjun, set against the backdrop of the Pakistan underworld.
While fans of Vicky Kaushal and epic mythology may have to wait, Aditya Dhar's commitment to quality suggests that The Immortal Ashwatthama will only see the light of day when it can truly match his visionary scale.
