Sidharth Malhotra and Tamannaah Bhatia are set to take audiences into a world where folklore, spirituality and the supernatural intersect with contemporary life. Their upcoming film ‘The Vvaan’ draws from an intriguing local legend, with the makers revealing that a real-life story associated with the Van Devi Temple near Patna became the starting point for the film.The project, written by Arunabh Kumar and directed by Deepak Kumar Mishra, aims to transform the lesser-known folklore into a large-scale cinematic experience. The filmmakers recently opened up about the origins of the story and the challenges involved in creating its mysterious world.
A temple legend becomes the starting point
Arunabh Kumar revealed that his interest in the story began after he visited the Van Devi Temple and spoke to people familiar with its history and folklore. His conversations with locals, priests and villagers eventually led him to develop the idea with director Deepak Kumar Mishra.“The story behind that temple is that it was built in the 16th century. In the forest, there were some things that used to trouble the people around there. There was a tradition that people were forbidden to visit the forest after sunset. The legend still remains in place. I spoke to the local people, the priests, and the villagers. Two years ago, I told Deepak about the story, and we both found it very exciting. It was then that we both went to Ektaa Kapoor, and it was she who said that this is a story to be made on a big screen,” Arunabh shared with ANI.The filmmaker duo eventually approached Ektaa Kapoor with the idea, with the producer recognising its potential as a theatrical spectacle.
Deepak Mishra wanted to expand the world
For Mishra, the biggest attraction was the possibility of taking a story deeply connected to the heartland and presenting it on an expansive cinematic canvas. Known for his work on ‘Panchayat’, the director wanted ‘The Vvaan’ to establish a world that could balance recognisable contemporary elements with an atmosphere of mystery.“We had to create a new world,” Mishra said, explaining the scale of the challenge involved in bringing the story to the screen.The director also found the protagonist’s journey particularly interesting. At the centre of the story is a contemporary young man who returns to his roots and embarks on a journey of self-discovery.“Homeland stories always inspire me a lot. This story is about a very contemporary boy who goes back to his roots and follows a path of rediscovery. As soon as this logline came, I developed a lot of interest, as I was already doing it in ‘Panchayat. Now that I had the opportunity to present it on a big platform, it was very exciting for me,” he added.
Technology helps create the mysterious setting
Bringing the world of ‘The Vvaan’ to life required more than conventional filmmaking techniques. Mishra revealed that animation and technology played a major role in developing the film’s visual atmosphere.“When it was narrated, the visuals automatically came to mind. It started from there and then slowly grew with the team. We prepared a cinematic presentation of it. One may not feel it while watching, but there is a lot of technology, a lot of animation, which has been used to build the world, to build that atmosphere,” he said.The use of these elements is expected to help the film move between its real-world setting and the supernatural aspects of its narrative.
Teaser promises folklore and supernatural mystery
The makers recently unveiled the official teaser of ‘The Vvaan’, offering audiences a first look at the film’s atmospheric world. The preview hints at a combination of fantasy folklore, ancient beliefs, mystery and supernatural elements.Sharing the teaser on Instagram, Sidharth Malhotra wrote, “Humari Rakshak hain woh, jinki Sher savaari hai! 25th Sept ko aa rahi Vvaan ki kahani hai! #THEVVAANTeaser Out Now! Teaser 2 coming #THEVVAAN in cinemas on 25th September, 2026.”
The Vvaan team and release date
‘The Vvaan’ is presented by Balaji Motion Pictures and has been written by Arunabh Kumar. Deepak Kumar Mishra serves as director, while Manu Anand is the director of photography and Visual Director. Shobha Kapoor, Ektaa R Kapoor, Arunabh Kumar and Niraj Kothari are backing the project as producers.The film, titled ‘The Vvaan – Force of the Forrest’, is scheduled to release theatrically on September 25, 2026. Its OTT platform has not been announced yet.