There has been much anticipation around <a href="https://www.mid-day.com/entertainment/bollywood-news/article/suriya-to-kickstart-film-on-mahabharata-karna-directed-by-rakeysh-omprakash-mehra-23325430" target="_blank" rel="none noopener">Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra</a>&rsquo;s Karna, and for good reason. The mythological drama, which will offer a retelling of the Mahabharata from Karna&rsquo;s point of view, is among the most ambitious projects in recent times. Suriya is tipped to lead the magnum opus, with Nayanthara said to portray Draupadi.
<img src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/images/2024/jun/Mehra-a_e.jpg" alt="Mehra" width="1280" height="720" /> Mehra
While director Mehra and novelist Anand Neelakantan locked the script, the team did extensive pre-production, including look tests over the past few months. But now, one hears that the makers have decided to put the project on pause, given the current box-office lull and market instability.
<img src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/images/2024/jun/Nayanthara_e.jpg" alt="Nayanthara" width="1280" height="720" /> Nayanthara
A source reveals, &ldquo;Karna is a passion project for producers <a href="https://www.mid-day.com/entertainment/bollywood-news/article/suriya-to-kickstart-film-on-mahabharata-karna-directed-by-rakeysh-omprakash-mehra-23325430" target="_blank" rel="none noopener">Farhan Akhtar</a> and Ritesh Sidhwani. The makers realised that the making cost was going north of R500 crore; it could go higher with the VFX involved. Given how important the movie is to them, they don&rsquo;t wish to cut corners. So, for now, they have put it on hold. Instead, they have taken a call to greenlight five small-size films and explore Karna at a later stage when the industry&rsquo;s economic health improves.&rdquo;
However, another insider closely involved with the project says that it is merely delayed. The source tells us, &ldquo;It is slightly delayed because the locations and the leads have yet to be locked. Nevertheless, it will roll by the year-end.&rdquo;

Sources say Mehra’s ambitious Karna put on hold as budget exceeds R500 crore; makers to revisit drama when the market improves

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Calling time on Kurukshetra war?

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