Exclusive | 'Shahid Kapoor-led Ashwatthama film NOT based on the Shiva Rajkumar script,' says source

Kannada filmmaker Sachin B Ravi has been toiling away for the past couple of years at his passion project, which could be best described as a genre-crossover epic centred around the mythological character Ashwatthama. 

Having designed the untitled film for veteran actor Shiva Rajkumar, who was to play a superhero-esque role (with a small spin on Ashwatthama) for possibly the first time in his nearly four-decade-long career, Sachin was to take the film on floors a few months ago. However, owing to certain constraints, the said project is yet to take off and by the looks of it, one will have to wait a bit longer before the team hits the stride.

In the same vein, we now hear of Sachin B Ravi collaborating with popular Hindi actor Shahid Kapoor on a film based on the same subject of Ashwathhama, with a major production house potentially bankrolling the project. And naturally, just as this piece of news emerged, there has been chatter about the young filmmaker wanting to bring his story in Hindi as opposed to Kannada, with Shahid Kapoor likely having replaced Shiva Rajkumar. OTTplay, however, learns of that not being the case.

Also Read: Exclusive! "If there's an epitome of immortality and agelessness for us Kannadigas, it has to be Shivanna," says filmmaker Sachin B. Ravi

"Shahid Kapoor project to go on floors first"

A source close to the development tells us that the film involving Shahid is based entirely on a different story and that though the two ideas, as it were, have overlaps, the Hindi film will rely on a new script altogether.

"Although the common factor between the two scripts remains the Ashwatthama character and the fact that there is lots of action in both stories, they are not the same by any means. The one being developed for Shahid sir will most likely go on floors first but that doesn't mean that one with Shivanna will be shelved," says the source who also shares that Sachin B Ravi and Shiva Rajkumar are still in touch for discussions regarding their collaboration.

The source then adds that one could soon expect an official confirmation from the filmmaker's end. In the meantime, Sachin B Ravi is said to be in discussions with Shahid Kapoor about the script and the potential changes that it could go through. More updates to follow.

Also Read: The Immortal Ashwatthama - Is 'Uri' director Aditya Dhar's loss, this Kannada filmmaker's gain?