New Delhi: After impressing audiences as Hamza in Dhurandhar, Ranveer Singh is now set to make a major shift. Wondering what the shift is all about? According
to reports, the actor is likely to play a character inspired by Lord Shiva in a grand big-screen adaptation of author Amish Tripathi’s trilogy, known as the Immortal of Meluha series.
Ranveer to play Lord Shiva?
According to a Pinkvilla report, Ranveer Singh has acquired the rights to The Immortal of Meluha under the production banner Maa Kasam Film. The report also stated that Ranveer has partnered with Birla Studios to develop the mythological epic as a “long-term cinematic universe” on a grand scale.
A source was quoted as saying, “Ranveer has been passionate about bringing Meluha to the big screen for a long time now. The acquisition happened recently, and the project is now officially under development. Makers are approaching the franchise as a long-term cinematic universe, and the plan is to tell the story over 3 films. The writing work has already begun, and the team is taking its time to crack the screenplay and world-building. The first part is expected to go on floors in 2028.”
The Immortals of Meluha is a Shiva trilogy authored by Amish Tripathi. The bestselling novels narrates the rise of a warrior from the Himalayas in the ancient kingdom of Meluha.
The source further told Pinkvilla, “The director will only be locked once the script work reaches a certain stage. Right now, the focus is entirely on developing the material.”
The new trend of actors playing almighty on-screen
Apart from Ranveer portraying the character of Lord Shiva, another much-anticipated performance is by Ranbir Kapoor, who is set to play Lord Ram in Nitesh Tiwari’s Ramayan. For decades, Bollywood heroes were celebrated as larger-than-life personalities for portraying angry young men, patriotic icons and romantic superstars. But in recent years, Indian cinema has witnessed a striking shift.
Actors are no longer just playing a hero but they are interested in playing Gods, mythological warriors inspired by Indian epics and spirituality.
From Akshay Kumar playing Lord Krishna in OMG – Oh My God to Prabhas playing Lord Ram in Adipurush, the filmmakers’ fascination with mythology is just getting stronger. Films based on the Ramayana, Mahabharata and tales of Hindu deities were common during the black-and-white era. However, over time, Indian cinema shifted towards urban storytelling. Now, the pendulam appears to be swinging back. With the modern cinematic technology and larger budgets, the culturally rooted stories have transformed into a profit-making genre.
About The Immortals of Meluha
The first book, The Immortals of Meluha, was published in 2010. The three novels of Amishverse follow the story of the Himalayan warrior named Shiva who arrives at the ancient temple of Meluha. In the trilogy, Shiva is a mortal man who attains the mantle of a God after the kingdom believes he is Neelkanth, a savior.
