Amar Kaushik calls ‘Mahavatar’ with Vicky Kaushal his biggest responsibility yet

Filmmaker Amar Kaushik, best known for directing the hit horror-comedy Stree , is gearing up for his most ambitious project yet the mythological epic Mahavatar , starring Vicky Kaushal.

Kaushik revealed that the film holds deep personal significance for him, calling it a story “that has lived with me since childhood.” The director, who grew up near Parashuram Kund in Arunachal Pradesh, said his fascination with the mythological figure of Parashuram inspired Mahavatar .

“This film is a very big responsibility for me. It has come from God because this character has been with me since childhood,” Kaushik told PTI. “Whenever I used to visit Parashuram Kund, I would get very fascinated.”

The director said pre-production work is currently underway, with the team focused on costume design and set building. Filming is expected to begin next year once Kaushal wraps up his current commitments.

“I’m very excited to work with Vicky. Whenever I meet him, I see a lot of purity in him. He’s the best person to portray this character,” Kaushik said, adding that the film will rely heavily on VFX to bring his long-held vision to life.

Apart from Mahavatar , Kaushik is also busy expanding Maddock Films’ successful horror-comedy universe with his next production Shakti Shalini , starring Saiyaara actress Aneet Padda. The interconnected universe already includes Stree , Bhediya , Munjya , Thamma , and the upcoming Stree 2 .

While Kaushik expressed interest in exploring other genres like thrillers and romances, he said he remains deeply committed to the horror-comedy universe that made him a household name.

“I cannot leave the universe because people have showered so much love on it. As a director, I want to do many things, but I also want to keep it safe,” he said. “It’s been eight years since Stree , and I hope to keep working till I’m 80.”

With Mahavatar , Kaushik is set to embark on a divine cinematic journey — one that promises to blend mythology, emotion, and visual spectacle in equal measure.