Ayan Mukerji's most ambitious ‘Brahmastra’ trilogy has been delayed again. PeepingMoon.com has exclusively learned that Ayan, who was set to commence pre-production on ‘Brahmastra 2’ after the release of ‘War 2,’ has now set his sights on another high-profile project, putting the second chapter of the trilogy on hold once again. 

According to sources, Ayan has been signed on to direct Yash Raj Films' ‘Dhoom 4,’ starring Ranbir Kapoor. “Aditya Chopra has entrusted him with the directorial reins of ‘Dhoom 4’, which introduces new characters and a fresh format, effectively rebooting the iconic action franchise. Although Ayan was earlier hesitant to take on back-to-back large-scale action projects, he couldn't say no to Aditya and Ranbir. He will begin preparations for ‘Dhoom 4’ immediately after ‘War 2’ releases on August 14,” a source told us. 

Ayan’s decision to prioritize ‘Dhoom 4’ also stems from financial hurdles surrounding ‘Brahmastra 2.’ While the rights to the trilogy remain with Dharma Productions, the studio is apparently reluctant to allocate the substantial budget required for such a project under current market conditions. “The Brahmastra trilogy is a passion project for both Ranbir and Ayan, but they also recognize that the timing and financial aspects must align perfectly to realize their ambitious vision,” the source added.

Ranbir and Ayan are now aiming for a 2027 production start for ‘Brahmastra 2,’ with plans to shoot ‘Brahmastra 3’ concurrently, similar to how Nitesh Tiwari has been filming his two-part mythological epic, ‘Ramayana.’ Meanwhile, ‘Dhoom 4’ is scheduled to get off the ground in April 2026, with a target to wrap by year-end and release theatrically in 2027. Ranbir carries forward the legacy established by John Abraham, Hrithik Roshan, and Aamir Khan, who headlined previous ‘Dhoom’ films. Casting for the film’s two police protagonists and leading ladies is currently underway.