Dhurandhar Director’s Next: Bigger Than Ramayana?

One of the biggest Indian films in discussion today is Ranbir Kapoor’s Ramayana, reportedly made on a ₹900 crore budget. But years before this, Aditya Dhar had planned a similarly massive project.

After the success of his debut film Uri: The Surgical Strike, Aditya Dhar began developing The Immortal Ashwatthama. He even released two posters and announced a reunion with Vicky Kaushal.

Vicky Kaushal had already started preparing for the role. You may remember reports stating he gained significant weight to match the physical demands of the character, signalling how serious the team was about the project.

Later, the project moved from RSVP Movies to Jio Studios*. Despite the shift, both studios eventually stepped back due to the film’s massive budget, and the project was shelved.

Aditya Dhar later explained the reason openly. At that time, the Indian film industry could not support the advanced visual effects he envisioned. The technology was expensive, limited, and not practical at the required scale.

Now, after Dhurandhar turned into a major success, fans are asking for the project’s revival. Many feel this is the right moment for Dhar to return to his long-pending passion project.

You can see fans suggesting that after Dhurandhar 2, Aditya Dhar should revisit The Immortal Ashwatthama. They believe his added experience will help him approach the story with greater control.

Technology has also moved ahead. With better VFX tools and infrastructure now available, many feel the film is far more achievable today and could even match or exceed the scale of Ramayana.

Vicky Kaushal’s form adds to the excitement. He delivered a hit this year with Chhaava, earning strong praise. If he stays attached, interest in the project will only grow.

The big question now is simple. Will Aditya Dhar revive The Immortal Ashwatthama, or will he surprise you with an entirely new vision?