Aditya Dhar reveals why Vicky Kaushal starrer ‘The Immortal Ashwatthama’ was shelved; says ‘budget was too big to work for Indian cinema’ | – Times of India

Major films demand substantial budgets, often necessitating certain compromises. Filmmaker Aditya Dhar, eager to realize his grand vision for the mythological superhero action film ‘The Immortal Ashwatthama,’ ultimately had to relinquish the project as the team acknowledged the impossibility of bringing it to fruition as envisioned.
Following the success of the blockbuster ‘Uri: The Surgical Strike,’ Dhar announced his next project, ‘The Immortal Ashwatthama.’ However, the film faced continual delays and was ultimately shelved due to budgeting constraints.
During the trailer launch of his latest production Article 370, director Aditya Dhar was asked to share an update on his ambitious film The Immortal Ashwatthama.Dhar explained that they have temporarily set aside the project. He admitted that the vision they had for the film was too grand for Indian cinema. Additionally, he noted that the level of VFX quality they aimed for had not been pursued in the industry before.
The filmmaker expressed that they would need to wait and observe until technology becomes more affordable or until there is an increase in the number of cinema halls in the country, allowing more people to watch films.

As an illustration, James Cameron conceived of Avatar 27 years ago but waited for the market to expand and the technology to advance before presenting it. Similarly, while acknowledging that he is not Cameron, the filmmaker emphasized the importance of achieving excellence without settling for mediocrity. He expressed his commitment to ensuring that the film, even if it requires five years of his prime time, must be nothing short of brilliant.

The filmmaker emphasized that once a film is created, it endures for posterity and cannot be mediocre. He stressed the importance of striving for excellence rather than merely aiming to generate profits. He firmly believed that filmmakers have a significant responsibility to portray their country in a positive light.
Set against the backdrop of Article 370, the film is helmed by director Aditya Suhas Jambhale and features Yami Gautam and Priyamani in leading roles. Produced by Jyoti Deshpande, Aditya Dhar, and his brother Lokesh Dhar, the movie is set to release on February 23rd.