Mumbai: Filmmaker Amar Kaushik, best known for directing Stree, has described his upcoming mythological epic Mahavatar starring Vicky Kaushal as the biggest and most meaningful project of his career. The director said the film is inspired by his personal connection with faith and mythology and is currently in advanced stages of pre-production.
Rooted in childhood memories and faith
Kaushik revealed that Mahavatar is based on a story that has stayed with him since his early years. “This film is a very big responsibility for me in my career. It has come from God because this character has been with me since childhood. We used to live next to the Parashuram Kund in Arunachal Pradesh and visited it often. This was a ritual at our home, and every visit would fascinate me deeply,” Kaushik told PTI in an interview.
The director shared that work is currently underway on the film’s sets and costumes, with shooting scheduled to begin next year. He added that the project’s scale and visual ambition required careful planning and significant technical resources.
“I didn’t know how to approach it initially because it needed extensive VFX and a lot of resources. I wanted to make sure it stayed true to the vision I’ve carried for years,” Kaushik said.
Vicky Kaushal to play the lead role
Amar Kaushik praised Vicky Kaushal, who will headline Mahavatar, for his discipline and sincerity, calling him the perfect choice for the mythological role. “Whenever I meet him, I see a lot of purity in him. He is the best person to portray this character. We will shoot next year once Vicky completes his current commitments and begins his prep,” the filmmaker added.
The project marks one of Kaushik’s most ambitious ventures yet, signalling a shift from his well-known horror-comedy genre to a spiritually rich narrative rooted in mythology and cultural heritage.
Expanding the Maddock horror-comedy universe
Beyond Mahavatar, Kaushik continues to play a major creative role in producer Dinesh Vijan’s Maddock Films’ horror-comedy universe, which includes Stree, Bhediya, Munjya, Thamma, and the upcoming Stree 2.
His next film as a producer, Shakti Shalini, features Saiyaara star Aneet Padda in the lead. The film expands Maddock’s growing cinematic universe of supernatural comedies that have gained immense popularity among Indian audiences.
When asked about working outside the genre that made him famous, Kaushik said, “That’s why I am working on Mahavatar and that’s why I directed Bala. I am producing other films too. But I cannot leave the horror-comedy universe because people have showered so much love on it, and I cannot ignore that responsibility.”
A balance between legacy and evolution
Kaushik concluded that while Mahavatar represents a new creative chapter, he remains committed to the audience that embraced his storytelling style. “I feel a deep sense of commitment to my viewers. My aim is to continue building on the legacy we’ve created while exploring new stories that challenge me as a filmmaker,” he said.
The director’s upcoming mythological film is expected to begin shooting in 2026, with major updates on casting and production details anticipated in the coming months.