Ronnie Screwvala holds Vicky Kaushal starrer Ashwatthama as budget crosses Rs 300 crore

Vicky Kaushal and Sara Ali Khan’s upcoming magnum opus Immortal Ashwathama has been delayed as the budget was exceeded. In an official statement producer, Ronnie Screwvala revealed that his most ambitious sci-fi project ‘Immortal Ashwathama’ has been delayed. The film is said to get a halt due to the budget issues and unfavorable circumstances led by the ongoing pandemic situation. 

 Film halted as Budget exceeded

Screwvala said in his statement, “In the last draft of the script, the ambition of the movie and the budget did not match and the overall uncertainty fueled by COVID, did not help. So all of us – Aditya (Dhar), Vicky (Kaushal), and I – decided that we need to put this back for another six to nine months.”

Ronnie further revealed the budget constraints of the film and added, “Sara Ali Khan also agreed. We will have to work more on the budget and circle back when things look better overall for the magnum opus which Ashwathama is being planned as.” 

As per a report by Pinkvilla, Director Aditya Dhar wants this film to be a global project and due to this, the budget of the film has seen a hike compared to the original plan. “Ashwathama was planned to be a sci-fi film with a superhero spin in the narrative. The makers had planned to bring the epic character of Ashwathama from Mahabharata in a futuristic world.”

Pinkvilla further added in their report, “The team started the pre-production work and also discussions with multiple visual effect studios from the west to transport the vision to spectacle. As time passed by, the makers realized that the budget puts too much pressure on the film to deliver at the box-office. The estimated budget, even before a single scene was shot, came in the range of Rs 300 crore. Hence, they all mutually decided to rework on the same and take the film on floors when the box office scenario looks better.”  

Immortal Ashwathama Cast 

While the film has been delayed, the makers will now work on the script, and meetings with visual teams will go on in the upcoming months. As things will be sorted the shooting schedule and everything will come on track. Let us tell you that the film stars Vicky Kaushal and Sara Ali Khan, Suniel Shetty and Jaideep Ahlawat will be seen in the major roles.