Dharma Productions is set to enter the superhero genre with Gadadhari Bheem, a big-budget mythological superhero film to be written and directed by Abhishek Varman, according to reports in the film trade press.
The project, described as a modern mythological superhero action drama rooted in the Mahabharata's Bheem — one of the epic's most fascinating characters — is being mounted as a large-scale tentpole theatrical spectacle. Reports say the script has been locked and the makers are now moving into the casting process, with a formal announcement expected soon. No official word has yet been issued by Dharma Productions or Varman, and the cast remains unconfirmed.
Dharma's first superhero outing
The film is reportedly the first superhero outing for Karan Johar's Dharma Productions. The 54-year-old filmmaker is said to be lining up an ambitious slate for the coming years, including a divine spectacle based on the love story of Radha and Krishna reported earlier, with Gadadhari Bheem locking in as another epic drawn from Hindu mythology. The intention, per the reports, is a big-screen experience with a strong focus on emotions and visuals rather than a conventional mythological adaptation — a contemporary superhero narrative inspired by traditional lore.
For Abhishek Varman, the project marks an unexplored genre. The filmmaker previously helmed romantic dramas such as 2 States and Kalank, making Gadadhari Bheem his third collaboration with Dharma Productions and by far his biggest canvas. Reports describe the venture as being developed specifically for theatres, with large-scale action design, visual effects and production design expected to play a major role in the storytelling.
The development comes at a time when Indian cinema is leaning heavily into mythology-based spectacles and pan-India entertainers, with producers betting that homegrown lore combined with superhero-scale filmmaking can deliver the kind of theatrical event audiences now expect.
Sources:
- Pinkvilla: Karan Johar takes a superhero route with Gadadhari Bheem; Abhishek Varman to direct
- Movie Talkies: Karan Johar and Abhishek Varman team up for Gadadhari Bheem
The project, described as a modern mythological superhero action drama rooted in the Mahabharata's Bheem — one of the epic's most fascinating characters — is being mounted as a large-scale tentpole theatrical spectacle. Reports say the script has been locked and the makers are now moving into the casting process, with a formal announcement expected soon. No official word has yet been issued by Dharma Productions or Varman, and the cast remains unconfirmed.
Dharma's first superhero outing
The film is reportedly the first superhero outing for Karan Johar's Dharma Productions. The 54-year-old filmmaker is said to be lining up an ambitious slate for the coming years, including a divine spectacle based on the love story of Radha and Krishna reported earlier, with Gadadhari Bheem locking in as another epic drawn from Hindu mythology. The intention, per the reports, is a big-screen experience with a strong focus on emotions and visuals rather than a conventional mythological adaptation — a contemporary superhero narrative inspired by traditional lore.
For Abhishek Varman, the project marks an unexplored genre. The filmmaker previously helmed romantic dramas such as 2 States and Kalank, making Gadadhari Bheem his third collaboration with Dharma Productions and by far his biggest canvas. Reports describe the venture as being developed specifically for theatres, with large-scale action design, visual effects and production design expected to play a major role in the storytelling.
The development comes at a time when Indian cinema is leaning heavily into mythology-based spectacles and pan-India entertainers, with producers betting that homegrown lore combined with superhero-scale filmmaking can deliver the kind of theatrical event audiences now expect.
Sources:
- Pinkvilla: Karan Johar takes a superhero route with Gadadhari Bheem; Abhishek Varman to direct
- Movie Talkies: Karan Johar and Abhishek Varman team up for Gadadhari Bheem
