Director Amar Kaushik has firmly dismissed viral media reports claiming he and lead actor Vicky Kaushal are giving up non-vegetarian food and alcohol as “spiritual prep” for their mythological epic, Mahavatar, urging fans to only trust official announcements.
November 11, 2025: Director Amar Kaushik has slammed the circulating rumours that he and actor Vicky Kaushal are making major lifestyle sacrifices—specifically abstaining from non-vegetarian food and alcohol—in preparation for their ambitious film, Mahavatar, a biopic on Lord Parashurama.
In a recent interview with Filmygyan, the director expressed frustration at the flow of unofficial news regarding the project.
Amar Kaushik (Interview with Filmygyan): “Again, I’m saying the same thing. Where do such rumours even come from? Please, stop it. Only believe it when we officially say so (Again, main wohi bol raha hoon ki yeh kaha se kuch bhi cheez nikalti hai. Please bhaiyon, bandh karo. Jab hum bolein, tabhi uska vishwaas karo).”
Rumors of ‘Spiritual Prep’
The director’s clarification follows several reports last week that cited anonymous sources claiming the duo had decided to give up certain food habits and alcohol as a sign of respect and complete focus for the divine role of Lord Parashurama.
One such report from Bollywood Hungama had stated: “A film like Mahavatar requires complete focus… They have decided to quit non-veg food, and will start their prep for the film with a grand pooja ceremony towards the middle of next year.”
Production Status and Release Update
While Kaushik strongly refuted the personal diet and alcohol rumors, he did confirm that the film remains in the pre-production phase.
Mahavatar, produced by Maddock Films and announced last November, is a large-scale mythological epic that requires extensive preparation, including significant VFX work. Filming is expected to commence towards the end of 2026 after Vicky Kaushal completes his current commitments, most notably Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Love And War.
The official release date, originally set for Christmas 2026, is now expected to be postponed to 2028 due to the sheer scale of the film and Kaushal’s demanding schedule. This change comes as Maddock Films has announced their horror-comedy franchise film, Shakti Shalini, for the Christmas 2026 slot.