Vicky Kaushal's ‘Mahavatar’ is not happening next year. PeepingMoon.com has learned that Maddock Films has postponed its ambitious mythological epic to 2027, leaving its initially planned Christmas 2026 release window open to other Bollywood movies. Industry buzz is that Shah Rukh Khan’s ‘King’ might opt for this date.

Originally slated to go on floors in the final quarter of this year, ‘Mahavatar’ is now expected to begin production only next April, making it unfeasible to complete for a December 2026 release. This delay is said to be because of Vicky Kaushal’s commitments to Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s period romance ‘Love & War,’ which is taking longer than expected to wrap.

Moreover, Vicky, who plays Lord Parashurama in this Amar Kaushik directorial, is required to undergo months of intensive physical training to achieve the muscular physique necessary for his role. This will be followed by at least six months of shooting and then a lengthy post-production phase given its reliance on CGI, visual effects, and elaborate world-building. 

Maddock Films is not committing to a new release date yet, but sources suggest the production house is considering the Independence Day 2027 weekend for ‘Mahavatar.’ Although the date is currently reserved for ‘Stree 3,’ that film is facing scheduling uncertainty amid changes in production timelines of the banner's entire horror-comedy universe.