Ayan Mukerji, who’s hoping Brahmastra will be his biggest success, begins shooting the “contemporary but magical fairy tale” for Dharma Productions in Bulgaria from February 23 with Ranbir and Alia. Why Bulgaria? Because that’s where some of the world’s finest animation, VFX and motion graphics studios are located. After Rohit Shetty shot Dilwale in Bulgaria, the country’s tourism minister invited other Bollywood directors to come and shoot on the country’s scenic Black Sea coast.

Interestingly, Ayan begins Brahmastra by shooting its action-packed climax first. Ranbir Kapoor, the film’s lead actor, is already in the European nation with the director prepping for his role. Alia Bhatt, who co-stars opposite Ranbir for the first time, will join them next week. Amitabh Bachchan, the film’s third big actor, will go later. The veteran actor had date issues and was not really required for the first schedule. Karan Johar, the film’s producer, will join the unit in March.

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According to reports, Brahmastra is to be made as a trilogy over eight to ten years. KJo announced this ambitious Dharma Productions film on the 75^th birthday of the Big B last October. The actor, who tweeted a look test he did with Ranbir for Ayan recently, confirmed the “cool shoot” was beginning soon. “It’s a joy to be with this incredible young generation,” Mr. Bachchan said of working with Ayan, Ranbir and Alia on Brahmastra.
Meanwhile, the latest on the film is that actor-wrestler Saurav Gurjar who has played Bheem and Ravan in TV serials is making his Bollywood debut as one of the baddies in Brahmastra. “I will be seen in a negative role,” Saurav said, adding that the film was called Brahmastra because the energies, wisdom and powers in it come from ancient India. “'Brahmastra is a weapon of God Brahma, the Creator of the Universe, and hence is considered powerful,” he said. The first part of the trilogy is slated for release on August 15, 2019.