'URI' director Aditya Dhar reveals why Vicky Kaushal's The Immortal Ashwatthama was shelved: 'The kind of VFX quality..'

Aditya Dhar and Vicky Kaushal came together for the blockbuster URI in 2019, and were all set to unite again for the magnum opus The Immortal Ashwatthama, but it was ultimately put on hold. At the trailer launch of his production Article 370, he revealed the reason behind the same. He revealed, “We have put that on the back burner right now. I’ll be honest, the kind of vision we all had for that, it was too big to work for Indian cinema. The kind of VFX quality we were looking at, nobody has even strived for it here.” The director added, “James Cameron thought of Avatar 27 years ago, but he waited for the market to grow. The tech to come to that level where he could actually present it. I’m, of course, not him, but if we have to achieve excellence, there can’t be any mediocrity. I can’t make it for the heck of it. Even if it takes five years of my prime time, the film has to be brilliant.” The trailer of Article 370 unveiled at an event in Mumbai left a profound impact leaving the audience intrigued about the film’s compelling subject. Adding to the event’s significance, a stirring rendition of the National Anthem by an Naval Brass Band preceded the trailer showcase, creating an atmosphere of anticipation. Directed by National Award-winning Aditya Suhas Jambhale, Article 370 is poised to deliver an intense narrative, edge-of-the-seat experience with some powerhouse performances. The film, headlined by Yami Gautam together with Priyamani, is scheduled to hit cinemas on 23rd February 2024.