Mahavatar (2026) the upcoming Hindi mythological film listed on BookMyShow which tells the story of Chiranjeevi Parashurama, the eternal warrior of dharma (one of Lord Vishnu’s avatars) produced by Dinesh Vijan’s Maddock Films.
Previously Dinesh Vijan’s Maddok Films has produced a diverse slate across genres. This is the studio’s most distinctive and commercially successful franchise, based on Indian folklore and supernatural stories mixed with comedy like Stree (2018) – Breakthrough horror-comedy directed by Amar Kaushik, starring Rajkummar Rao and Shraddha Kapoor., Bhediya (2022) – Werewolf-themed horror-comedy with Varun Dhawan and Kriti Sanon., Munjya (2024) – Another folklore-based entry that performed strongly at the box office, Stree 2 (2024) – Massive blockbuster and one of the highest-grossing Hindi films of all time and Thamma (2025) – respectively. Recent Big Successes Chhaava (2025) – Historical action drama starring Vicky Kaushal as Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj. It became one of the biggest hits of the year and a major commercial milestone for the studio.
Vicky Kaushal stars in the lead role in Mahavatar (2026). The movie is marked as releasing in 2026, with over 14.1K people already showing interest on the platform; users can mark themselves interested to get notified when bookings open.
It is directed by Amar Kaushik, written by Niren Bhatt, and produced under Maddock Films (Dinesh Vijan), with a planned theatrical release around Christmas 2026 (though some reports note filming may begin later).
The official synopsis on the platform describes it as “The story of Chiranjeevi Parashurama the eternal warrior of dharma!” Vicky Kaushal is the only cast member currently listed (as Actor).
Additional production details from other sources confirm it is a Hindi mythological epic directed by Amar Kaushik, written by Niren Bhatt, and produced by Dinesh Vijan’s Maddock Films, with Vicky Kaushal portraying the warrior-sage Parashurama.
Lead & Character
Vicky Kaushal plays Chiranjeevi Parashurama (also called the eternal warrior of dharma), the fierce sixth avatar of Lord Vishnu. Parashurama is depicted as a warrior-sage who wields a divine axe (parashu) and fights to restore dharma against adharma.
Key Crew
- Director: Amar Kaushik
- Writer: Niren Bhatt
- Producer: Dinesh Vijan (Maddock Films)
- Language: Hindi | Country: India
Story / Synopsis
The film explores Parashurama’s warrior-sage journey, his divine mission, and
the battle between dharma and adharma. It draws from Hindu mythology
surrounding this immortal figure who appears in both the Ramayana and
Mahabharata traditions.
Release & Production Status
Originally announced for a Christmas 2026 (around 25 December 2026) theatrical
release. As of late 2026.
However, later reports indicate
production has shifted: Vicky Kaushal planned intensive preparation (including
a major physical transformation of gaining 25+ kg, archery, and axe combat
training under coach Tejas Lalwani) starting mid-2026 after wrapping Love
& War. Principal photography was reported to begin in January 2027 and
run for about a year, which could push the final release beyond the original
2026 target.
Additional Notes
- The project is described by the producers as
significantly larger in scale than Chhaava.
- First-look posters of Vicky Kaushal as Parashurama were
released around the film’s announcement (November 2024 / Parashuram
Jayanti period).
- Female lead casting has been the subject of rumors
(names like Shraddha Kapoor and Deepika Padukone have been linked in
reports), but nothing is officially confirmed.
- It is a live-action film and is distinct from the
animated Mahavatar cinematic universe (starting with Mahavatar
Narsimha) from Hombale Films / Kleem Productions.
- Mahavatar is an upcoming Hindi mythological action-drama film produced by Maddock Films.
- The film is directed by Amar Kaushik, known for the successful Stree franchise.
- It is produced by Dinesh Vijan under the Maddock Films banner.
- The screenplay is written by Niren Bhatt.
- Vicky Kaushal plays the lead role of Chiranjeevi Parashurama, the eternal warrior of dharma.
- Parashurama is depicted as the sixth avatar of Lord Vishnu and a fierce warrior-sage who wields a divine axe (parashu).
- The story explores Parashurama’s divine mission and the battle between dharma (righteousness) and adharma (unrighteousness).
- The film was officially announced with first-look posters of Vicky Kaushal as Parashurama.
- It was originally planned for a theatrical release around Christmas 2026 (25 December 2026).
- Vicky Kaushal is undergoing intense physical transformation for the role, including significant muscle gain (reportedly over 25 kg) and training in archery and axe combat.
- The actor has committed a long period (around 18 months including preparation and shooting) exclusively to the project.
- Filming was expected to begin after Vicky completes Love & War, with some reports pointing to a 2027 shoot schedule.
- The movie is being positioned as a large-scale mythological epic, described by the producers as significantly bigger than Chhaava.
- On BookMyShow, it is listed as “Releasing in 2026” with thousands of users already marking interest.
- Mahavatar is a live-action film and is separate from the animated Mahavatar cinematic universe (such as Mahavatar Narsimha) produced by other studios.