Aditya Dhar's Dhurandhar, a spy thriller starring Ranveer Singh, is currently dominating the box office, having grossed over ₹700 crore worldwide in just two weeks. However, before this triumph, Dhar faced a significant setback with his ambitious project, The Immortal Ashwatthama, starring Vicky Kaushal, being shelved.
The Immortal Ashwatthama was envisioned as a mythological superhero action film, a retelling of Ashwatthama's journey from the Mahabharata, exploring his quest for redemption and immortality. Following the success of Uri: The Surgical Strike (2019), which marked Dhar's directorial debut and also starred Kaushal, expectations were high for this second collaboration. The film was backed by Ronnie Screwvala's RSVP, the same production house behind Uri.
Kaushal underwent extensive physical training for the role, and Dhar officially announced the project in January 2021 with the release of posters featuring the actor. Dhar described the film as a "high-concept visual spectacle" that would "raise the bar higher for the superhero genre". Initially, Sara Ali Khan was considered for a role before Samantha Ruth Prabhu was rumored to join the cast.
Despite the initial enthusiasm, the project faced numerous hurdles. Production delays arose, attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent budgetary constraints. Eventually, The Immortal Ashwatthama was shelved. Dhar explained that the vision for the film was "too big for the mathematics to work for Indian cinema". He noted that the VFX quality they were aiming for was unprecedented in Indian cinema, and the technology required was not yet affordable.
Dhar mentioned that until the technology became more accessible or the number of cinema halls increased to boost viewership, the project would remain on hold. He drew inspiration from James Cameron, who waited for technology and the market to evolve before making Avatar. Dhar emphasized the importance of striving for excellence and avoiding mediocrity, stating he couldn't make the film "just for the heck of it".
Reports suggest that creative differences between Dhar and Screwvala also contributed to the film's shelving. While the project initially had a budget of ₹500 crore, RSVP reportedly spent over ₹30 crore during the two years of preparation. Later, the project was said to have moved to Jio Studios before they also backed out.
The success of Dhurandhar is a significant comeback for both Dhar and Ranveer Singh. For Dhar, it marks a return to directing after a seven-year gap and the shelving of two films. Before Uri, Dhar was also slated to direct a romantic drama starring Fawad Khan and Katrina Kaif, but the project was shelved after the 2016 Uri attack due to the ban on Pakistani artists in Indian films.
As for Dhurandhar, the film's success lies in the fact that it has emerged as the fastest ₹500 crore grosser ever in India. As of December 19, 2025, Dhurandhar has collected ₹479.50 crore net domestically in its first two weeks, with a gross of ₹552.50 crore in India and ₹158 crore overseas, totaling ₹710.50 crore worldwide. The film has surpassed Rajinikanth's 2.0 and Jailer to become one of the highest-grossing Indian films worldwide. Given Dhurandhar's triumph, some fans are hopeful that The Immortal Ashwatthama might be revived in the future.
