Shaktimaan’s ₹400 Cr Gamble: Sony Pictures Weighs Ranbir Kapoor vs Ranveer Singh or a 50% Budget Cut

Ziya Khan December 5, 2024Last Updated: December 5, 2024

The highly anticipated Shaktimaan film has been generating buzz, not only for reviving one of India’s most beloved superheroes but also for the challenges it faces during production. Sony Pictures India has secured the rights to adapt Shaktimaan into a major motion picture, casting Ranveer Singh as the titular character and bringing on Basil Joseph, known for his work on Minnal Murali, as the director. However, despite these notable names, the project is encountering significant hurdles.

Production Struggles

Trade sources indicate that Sony Pictures India has faced difficulties in getting the project off the ground. A trade insider shared, “Sony Pictures wants to make Shaktimaan in the best possible way, but to their surprise, the digital players are not optimistic about the film due to Ranveer Singh’s recent performance. They feel he is currently at an all-time low, and even a film like Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani did not achieve the expected box office success.”The source further noted, “Sony Pictures believes they are creating one of the most exciting films in Indian cinema with Shaktimaan returning, but the market has a different perspective. OTT platforms have suggested they replace Ranveer Singh with Ranbir Kapoor due to concerns over his diminishing stardom. They are currently trying to rework the budgets to make the film happen with Ranveer.”

High Production Costs and Market Concerns

This ambitious project comes with a substantial production budget of ₹400 crore, making it one of the costliest films in Indian cinema. Given the high investment, producers are relying on securing premium deals with OTT platforms and satellite channels to mitigate risks. Unfortunately, these platforms currently view Ranveer Singh as a risky choice due to his inconsistent box office performance. A source told Bollywood Hungama, “Sony Pictures is struggling to sell Ranveer Singh as a superhero. The film can’t proceed without premium OTT and satellite deals, which are currently not feasible with Ranveer. They aim to start filming in the second half of 2025 and hope to secure better deals.”