The much-awaited sequel to Brahmastra looks to have hit a major roadblock, with production partners pulling out, as it was recently reported that Jio Studios has not identified itself with Brahmastra 2. So has Dharma Productions, and Karan Johar is also said to have walked away from the sequel.
The development takes place nearly four years since the first Brahmastra movie was released. The 2022 fantasy action adventure was a huge box office hit, and a much-awaited Bollywood hit after the COVID-19 pandemic, which was witnessed by Ranbir Kapoor and Alia Bhatt.
The first film earned around ₹450 crore globally and generated huge curiosity about the next episodes of the Astraverse. Director Ayan Mukerji had already hinted at the story of the second instalment, with Dev and Amrita expected to be major figures.
However, even with the hype around the sequel, the work on Brahmastra 2 is taking longer than expected because of the production on Brahmastra 2. And now the departure of major studio partners is also an obstacle for the ambitious project.
Jio Studios Walking Away
Ayan Mukerji's production company Starlight Pictures Private Limited was one of the production entities associated with the first Brahmastra and reportedly holds the intellectual property rights associated with this franchise.
Mukerji was also looking for a major studio partner for the sequel. Talks with Jio Studios had seemed to have started and there was speculation that the studio would become an important partner for Brahmastra 2.
However, it may have been that some rights on the project were not being respected and the partnership was lost at the end. As a result, Jio Studios has already withdrawn from the sequel.
The development is significant because the first Brahmastra had the backing of Star Studios, which later became part of the Jio Studios ecosystem. Mukerji had hoped to continue that association for the second chapter.
Dharma Productions Also Out
The uncertainty is added to the mix with the fact that Dharma Productions, which supported the first film of Karan Johar (Brahmastra 2), is not working on the film. The production house is no longer active in Brahmastra 2.
Ayan Mukerji is also believed to have looked into Yash Raj Films after Dharma Productions left. The filmmaker had worked with YRF on War 2, and reports indicated that YRF head Aditya Chopra had shown interest in the Brahmastra sequel.
But after the poor performance of War 2, these discussions did not proceed further.
Mukerji later started talks with Jio Studios, but that partnership too seems to have gone down.
What Happens to Brahmastra 2 Now?
Brahmastra 2’s future has been in doubt. With so many major production houses no longer attached as of now, the film is facing a financing and studio-partnership problem.
As the sequel will be an expensive production with huge visual effects and fantasy, and its mythology, which is large, a better studio partner will be key for the project to go forward.
In the meantime, fans are eagerly waiting for the cast update. Ranbir Kapoor and Alia Bhatt will continue to play at the heart of the franchise, and the casting of the mysterious Dev character has generated much speculation. Names such as Ranveer Singh and Vijay Deverakonda have been mentioned in the past.
In fact, the first Brahmastra also featured Amitabh Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan and Deepika Padukone in some key cameo roles, which adds to the franchise’s star power.
Brahmastra 2 is one of Bollywood’s most eagerly awaited but still far from being a reality. The first film had a major box-office boost in 2022, but Jio Studios and Dharma Productions are out of business, so there’s a new challenge for Ayan Mukerji.
If the filmmaker can find a new production partner and finally get the sequel into production, then how successful will that be?
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