Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; October 28, 2017)

Having taken the onus of giving Bollywood its biggest superhero in their next, Brahmastra, Ranbir Kapoor and Karan Johar are pulling out all stops. mid-day has learnt that the Ayan Mukerji-directed venture, which apparently sees Kapoor’s character having the superpower of unleashing fire from his palms, is being mounted on a budget of over Rs 150 crore.

Namit Malhotra (founder, executive chairman and global CEO, Prime Focus), who turns co-producer with this film, says the budget is immaterial in light of their vision for the project. “We aspire to create something homegrown that can match Hollywood standards. We can’t be penny-pinching with the scale. Hollywood has moved from dramas and rom-coms to big scale films, which makes more money eventually. India too is getting there,” he says.

Bollywood’s answer to Hollywood’s fantasy films, Brahmastra will be released in 3D to up the cinematic experience. “We will shoot it the regular way and then convert it into 3D. The visual effects and conversion quality will be superlative,” asserts Malhotra.

Also starring Amitabh Bachchan and Alia Bhatt in pivotal roles, the film has been conceived as a trilogy. However, the team is currently focused on the first instalment, which is likely to go on floors early next year. “The films will progress from establishing the characters to the protagonist achieving his goal. Ayan’s vision will strike a chord with everyone, from the ages of six to 60. In terms of concept, it doesn’t share any similarities with other Bollywood superhero films, like Krrish [2006]. The title itself conveys that the story is rooted in our cultural heritage.”