Vicky Kaushal's superhero Ashwatthama being planned as trilogy, says Aditya Dhar

Director Aditya Dhar has revealed that the upcoming film Ashwatthama, featuring Vicky Kaushal, might be a trilogy. In a recent interview, the director admitted that the crew is currently focussed on working on the 'first part,' which goes on the floors at the end of 2020. 

Speaking to the daily Mid-Day, Dhar said, "We are planning to make it in three parts. For now, we are concentrating on the first part because [making] that is such a huge task. If we perfect that, the second and third [editions] will be made." 

The film is an updated fantasy superhero film, based on the legend of Ashwaththama from the Mahabharata. Speaking about the film in the interview, Dhar said, "We don't want to compromise on the scale. We want to make a superhero film and hopefully, achieve what Marvel is doing globally."

While there was speculation that work on the project will begin in March, the director confirmed that the film will go on the floors late in 2020. Dhar stated that Kaushal was required to gain weight and learn martial arts for the role.

The actor is currently set to begin work on another period epic, Takht (2021), directed by Karan Johar, later this year. He also has the biopic on Sardar Udham Singh with Shoojit Sircar set for release on 2 October, and another biopic on Sam Manekshaw with Meghna Gulzar in the pipeline. 

Dhar and Kaushal last collaborated in the blockbuster, Uri: The Surgical Strike (2019). The film went on to become the highest-grossing film of the year and also won the National award for Best Director (Dhar) and Best Actor (Kaushal).