Bollywood has witnessed several ambitious projects that never made it to the big screen, but few generated as much excitement as Ranveer Singh and Karan Johar’s historical drama Takht. Announced as one of the biggest period films in Hindi cinema, the movie was reportedly planned on a massive budget of ₹200–250 crore and featured an ensemble cast that included Alia Bhatt, Vicky Kaushal, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Anil Kapoor, Bhumi Pednekar, and Janhvi Kapoor. Years after the project disappeared from discussions, actor Mahir Pandhi has finally opened up about why the much-awaited film was shelved.

What Was ‘Takht’ About?

‘Takht’ was envisioned as a grand historical drama based on the fierce battle for the Mughal throne between Dara Shikoh and Aurangzeb during the final years of Emperor Shah Jahan’s reign. Karan Johar had famously described the project as “Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham in medieval times,” promising a mix of family drama, politics, betrayal, and power struggles. The film was expected to be one of Dharma Productions’ most expensive ventures, with reports suggesting a budget ranging from ₹200 crore to ₹250 crore.

Mahir Pandhi Reveals Why ‘Takht’ Was Shelved

Speaking about the project, Mahir Pandhi revealed that the COVID-19 pandemic became the biggest obstacle in the film’s journey. According to him, the film’s massive scale and star-studded cast made scheduling nearly impossible after the pandemic disrupted the industry. Pandhi explained that bringing together so many leading actors for a historical film requiring extensive shooting schedules became an enormous challenge. Even attempts to revive the project later faced difficulties because aligning the dates of such a large cast was nearly impossible.

Rising Costs Added to the Problem

Apart from scheduling conflicts, the project’s budget reportedly continued to rise after the pandemic. Large-scale period dramas require elaborate sets, costumes, visual effects, and extensive production planning. The increased financial burden made the film a riskier proposition for producers in the post-pandemic market. Pandhi stated that the combination of COVID-related delays and escalating production costs ultimately led to the decision to shelve the film.

Karan Johar Called the Decision “Heartbreaking”

Karan Johar has previously admitted that shelving ‘Takht’ was one of the most heartbreaking moments of his career. The filmmaker revealed that he spent over two years researching and developing the project before circumstances forced him to put it aside. Despite the setback, Johar has expressed hope that he may someday return to making a grand historical film.

A Dream Project That Never Took Off

For fans of Ranveer Singh and Bollywood period dramas, ‘Takht’ remains one of the industry’s biggest “what if” stories. With a stellar cast, an intriguing historical backdrop, and Karan Johar’s vision, the film had all the ingredients of a cinematic spectacle. However, the pandemic, scheduling conflicts, and mounting production expenses proved too difficult to overcome. As things stand, ‘Takht’ remains one of Bollywood’s most ambitious unreleased projects—a dream that never made it to the silver screen.