Akshay Kumar gets permission for Ram Setu unit to shoot in Ayodhya

Last month, during Diwali, Akshay Kumar announced that he would star in a film titled Ram Setu, which is to be directed by Abhishek Sharma. The film will explore the question of whether the bridge Ram Setu mentioned in the epic Ramayana is a myth or reality. 

As the film is related to Lord Ram, Akshay Kumar wanted to shoot parts of it at His birthplace, Ayodhya. As per a report in the Mumbai Mirror newspaper, the film unit has been granted permission to shoot the film in the ancient city. 

The report also says that the permission was the product of Akshay Kumar’s meeting with the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday in Mumbai. 

A source close to the film’s unit told the publication, “Set in today’s India, it’s the journey of the protagonist to discover if the Ram Setu is a myth or reality. Since Akshay and his director, Abhishek Sharma, want to present an accurate depiction, they want to shoot in real locations in the state, including Ayodhya, the birthplace of Lord Ram. They want to kick off the film by mid-2021 in UP.” 

Sharma's recent film, the comedy Suraj Pe Mangal Bhari, starring Manoj Bajpayee, Diljit Dosanjh and Fatima Sana Shaikh, was released in theatres on 15 November.