Ranbir Kapoor’s Brahmastra encounters yet another hurdle

Starring Ranbir Kapoor, Alia Bhatt, Amitabh Bachchan and Mouni Roy in important roles, Dharma Productions’ adventure fantasy drama Brahmastra was originally slated to enter theatres in 2019. But the project kept facing one delay after another and is yet to make its entry into cinemas.

The latest we hear that the Ayan Mukerji directorial has hit the roadblock again, after reports emerged that it was facing budgeting issues. After missing its date with cinemas in 2019, the film was expected to release in December 2020. However, the shoot of the high-profile film has been put on hold due to the Coronavirus lockdown. If the lockdown is extended further, the film could be delayed yet again, resulting in more financial burden on the makers.

“Currently, there are about 40 more days of shoot left and given the lockdown situation, it does not look like the shoot will start any time soon. Given this delay so far, the budget of Brahmastra has overshot by a wide margin. The movie is high on VFX and a major chunk of VFX is still pending which includes the stuff shot with Shah Rukh Khan at a studio in Mumbai, and the plot that unfolds in Manali and Varanasi,” a source close to the development divulges.

The source goes on to add, “As of now, Karan is looking to rework the economics of the film. The members of the film’s cast as well as director, Ayan Mukherji, Ranbir Kapoor and Alia Bhatt, aware of the ground realities, have voluntarily decided to take a pay cut to make the project viable. In lieu of the diminished pay, Dharma Productions is contemplating offering them a profit share in the film’s success. However, details of the same have not yet been worked out.”

Produced by Dharma Productions, Brahmastra marks the first collaboration between rumoured couple Ranbir Kapoor and Alia Bhatt.