Dinesh Vijan on ‘Mahavatar’: “Six Times the Scale of Chhaava”, Eyes Global Breakthrough

Producer Dinesh Vijan has set ambitious expectations for his upcoming film Mahavatar, calling it a project that is “six times the size” of his earlier hit Chhaava. The filmmaker also hinted at a larger industry shift, stating that the success of Ramayana could pave the way for such large-scale mythological spectacles.

‘Mahavatar’ aims for global scale

Speaking at the launch of the FICCI-EY Media & Entertainment Report in Mumbai, Dinesh Vijan opened up about the scale and vision behind Mahavatar, which stars Vicky Kaushal.

The film is based on Parshuram, the sixth avatar of Lord Vishnu, and is being designed with a global audience in mind.

“It’s six times the size of Chhaava. We can’t go to the world with something smaller. We want to take our culture and present it in the best possible way,” Vijan said.

Risk is the real formula for success

Vijan also reflected on the current box office landscape, highlighting that most ₹500 crore films were inherently risky ventures.

He cited Chhaava as an example, explaining that neither the actor nor the director had prior experience in that genre, yet the film succeeded purely on theatrical strength.

“At one point, none of the rights were sold. The film recovered everything from theatres,” he revealed, underlining the importance of big-screen storytelling over safe, pre-sold models.

‘Ramayana’ could change the game

Talking about the upcoming epic Ramayana, backed by Namit Malhotra, Vijan acknowledged its potential to reshape the market.

“If Ramayana runs, Mahavatar is all set,” he said, drawing a direct link between the success of mythological spectacles and the industry’s confidence in scaling them further.

While Ramayana explores the seventh avatar of Lord Vishnu, Mahavatar focuses on the sixth — creating a broader narrative space for Indian mythology on a global stage.

A new era of theatrical ambition

With Mahavatar, Dinesh Vijan appears to be betting big on scale, culture, and theatrical experience at a time when the industry is increasingly balancing between cinemas and streaming platforms.

His comments reflect a growing belief that audiences are ready for larger-than-life Indian stories, provided they are executed with conviction and global appeal.

Final Word

If Chhaava was about proving a point, Mahavatar is about pushing boundaries.

With scale, mythology, and global ambition at its core, the film could mark a defining moment for Indian cinema’s international push — provided the ecosystem, led by films like Ramayana, delivers at the box office.