Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra’s ambitious project Karna, starring Tamil superstar Suriya, has hit a major roadblock. The mythological epic, initially set to be a two-part film, has been temporarily shelved due to massive budget issues. The director, best known for Rang De Basanti and Bhaag Milkha Bhaag, has struggled to secure the Rs 600 crore needed to bring the film to life.
Despite years of research and planning, Mehra’s vision for an epic retelling of Karna’s story now faces an uncertain future. Karna was meant to be a grand historical portrayal of one of the most intriguing characters from the Mahabharata. However, the soaring production costs have become a significant hurdle, with Mehra now having to reevaluate the project’s feasibility.
Excel Entertainment Asks To Reduce The Budget Of Suriya Starrer Karna
According to a Peeping Moon report, Excel Entertainment has expressed concerns to produce the film over the escalating budget. Farhan Akhtar and Ritesh Sidhwani’s production company has urged Mehra to scale back the budget to make the project financially viable.
The producers have stated that unless the budget is significantly reduced, they will not be able to continue backing the film. In response, Mehra has reportedly started looking for new producers who might be willing to take on the project with its current budget.
Kanguva’s Disastrous Response Further Creates Difficulties To Find Investors
Another challenge for the film lies in its lead actor, Suriya. His recent film Kanguva performed disastrously at the box office, which has raised doubts among potential investors.
With the project set in a North India context, the producers are now uncertain about betting on a South Indian actor for a mythological tale tied to a key event in Delhi, raising further concerns.
Will Karna Meet The Same Fate As Aditya Dhar’s The Immortal Ashwatthama?
Karna now faces similar challenges to Vicky Kaushal’s The Immortal Ashwatthama, which was also shelved after failing to secure funding. Mehra now faces two options: either compromise on his vision and reduce the scope of the film, or find a new producer willing to take a gamble on the high-budget project.
If Mehra chooses the latter, he could find himself in the same position as Aditya Dhar, whose The Immortal Ashwatthama was abandoned years ago.
As of now, it remains unclear whether Karna will eventually see the light of day or whether Mehra’s epic will join the list of shelved mythological films.
The fate of the project will likely depend on the director’s ability to secure the necessary funds or scale back his vision to match budget constraints. Only time will tell whether the film will rise again or fade into history.
(Also read: Kanguva Review: Suriya’s Action-Packed Comeback Falters Due To A Plot That Struggles To Keep Up)
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