![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/3UJG42LMLXKWASBTGGSEDFKT3E.jpg?smart=true&auth=73df995b5457437bb280877957f826df962dbee6c149243cd295c9aeb2458bcf&width=400&height=225)
Actress Mouni Roy plays the antagonist Junoon. Photo: Spread Communications
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/JHCIASYUHFB2PPU6CXAHSZSE6U.jpg?smart=true&auth=a38519005dfea380b10390c29ad6294a684d634327ee4f8e1543db35e2c9ab0b&width=400&height=225)
Ranbir Kapoor, Alia Bhatt and Amitabh Bachchan in 'Brahmastra: Part One – Shiva', one of the most expensive Indian films ever made. All photos: Dharma Productions, unless otherwise specified
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/A3H4H3YUXFFGFEITE7UREZDUKA.jpg?smart=true&auth=8288fe048df2234da047bff4346f99a5a5772c55fdadddf9fc1bf0ffc33fae29&width=400&height=225)
Ranbir Kapoor and Alia Bhatt fell in love on the set of 'Brahmastra: Part One – Shiva'. The couple married in April and are expecting their first child together.
Veteran Indian actor Amitabh Bachchan and Ranbir Kapoor in 'Brahmastra: Part One – Shiva'.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/NPAN7UMDQJBJLD3JTFGGI34BNQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=5d580a71eb25d99090887bc4d36e3be566b66bbdaa73e456881934c093c45c3f&width=400&height=225)
South Indian superstar Nagarjuna Akkineni in 'Brahmastra: Part One – Shiva'.
Director Ayan Mukerji on set.
Kapoor plays a DJ named Shiva and Bhatt is his romantic interest Isha.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/4DY3C2MINJDV3KVRH7MRXVESEY.jpg?smart=true&auth=c455ca54f95cfbe5f64280510ab3e107e269c03ae46d073f4d4618b040fdd5e4&width=400&height=225)
Director Ayan Mukerji with Nagarjuna Akkineni on set.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ZUSQLRVGBBFKHASTPH76NVGTI4.jpg?smart=true&auth=ab31a7c91f3171c0936f5d5839b9ec1349b15a040f0961a817a89ff57ca962e7&width=400&height=225)
Kapoor, left, on set with director Mukerji.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/M7JO5XKTX5AVHMGHKDUEQ7FXW4.jpg?smart=true&auth=39c8a261655e709d6ed2c6689c1db230ff06172536844af183ad80034b615c12&width=400&height=225)
Bhatt and Kapoor in 'Brahmastra: Part One – Shiva'.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/N2F6ODKT2JB7JNXWHRS2YFPMN4.jpg?smart=true&auth=9c997c3ea2825e5de2f0f363c8fd1f960c6ad03f9caf472ba5ec076bb399300e&width=400&height=225)
A still from 'Brahmastra: Part One – Shiva'.
In the film, Kapoor's character discovers he has a connection with fire, and learns to harness it using the help of an ancient secret society.
Director Mukerji says the film is part of a planned trilogy, with deep roots in Hindu mythology.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/F4JVSTKCHVB3XIRF23B5S4GRAQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=3052dec71d96c3585e07cf2e97ca384e01f476dac2a84cebe918420462bef634&width=400&height=225)
Mukerji, centre, on set with Amitabh Bachchan, left, and Kapoor.
Kapoor and Bhatt during a promotional event of the film in New Delhi in 2021. AFP
Kapoor interacts with fans at an event in New Delhi. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/QH6VMC6MRZEX3BXMTOUQRI77RY.jpg?smart=true&auth=86a850764b3907ab94610376cdf4c846e169b599d08820c936c4084d3ca4da76&width=400&height=225)
Mukerji with real-life couple Kapoor and Bhatt. Photo: Ayan Mukerji
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/KLRYM4NOINGTPC5XCHYJ3KYGM4.jpg?smart=true&auth=451b135fc235082047d2cf991f75c0a7f80d7896586b0017385830e74cbc7f30&width=400&height=225)
Bachchan, right, plays Guru, the leader of a secret society. Photo: Ayan Mukerji
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/3UJG42LMLXKWASBTGGSEDFKT3E.jpg?smart=true&auth=73df995b5457437bb280877957f826df962dbee6c149243cd295c9aeb2458bcf&width=400&height=225)
Actress Mouni Roy plays the antagonist Junoon. Photo: Spread Communications
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/JHCIASYUHFB2PPU6CXAHSZSE6U.jpg?smart=true&auth=a38519005dfea380b10390c29ad6294a684d634327ee4f8e1543db35e2c9ab0b&width=400&height=225)
Ranbir Kapoor, Alia Bhatt and Amitabh Bachchan in 'Brahmastra: Part One – Shiva', one of the most expensive Indian films ever made. All photos: Dharma Productions, unless otherwise specified
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/A3H4H3YUXFFGFEITE7UREZDUKA.jpg?smart=true&auth=8288fe048df2234da047bff4346f99a5a5772c55fdadddf9fc1bf0ffc33fae29&width=400&height=225)
Ranbir Kapoor and Alia Bhatt fell in love on the set of 'Brahmastra: Part One – Shiva'. The couple married in April and are expecting their first child together.
Veteran Indian actor Amitabh Bachchan and Ranbir Kapoor in 'Brahmastra: Part One – Shiva'.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/NPAN7UMDQJBJLD3JTFGGI34BNQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=5d580a71eb25d99090887bc4d36e3be566b66bbdaa73e456881934c093c45c3f&width=400&height=225)
South Indian superstar Nagarjuna Akkineni in 'Brahmastra: Part One – Shiva'.
Director Ayan Mukerji on set.
Kapoor plays a DJ named Shiva and Bhatt is his romantic interest Isha.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/4DY3C2MINJDV3KVRH7MRXVESEY.jpg?smart=true&auth=c455ca54f95cfbe5f64280510ab3e107e269c03ae46d073f4d4618b040fdd5e4&width=400&height=225)
Director Ayan Mukerji with Nagarjuna Akkineni on set.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ZUSQLRVGBBFKHASTPH76NVGTI4.jpg?smart=true&auth=ab31a7c91f3171c0936f5d5839b9ec1349b15a040f0961a817a89ff57ca962e7&width=400&height=225)
Kapoor, left, on set with director Mukerji.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/M7JO5XKTX5AVHMGHKDUEQ7FXW4.jpg?smart=true&auth=39c8a261655e709d6ed2c6689c1db230ff06172536844af183ad80034b615c12&width=400&height=225)
Bhatt and Kapoor in 'Brahmastra: Part One – Shiva'.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/N2F6ODKT2JB7JNXWHRS2YFPMN4.jpg?smart=true&auth=9c997c3ea2825e5de2f0f363c8fd1f960c6ad03f9caf472ba5ec076bb399300e&width=400&height=225)
A still from 'Brahmastra: Part One – Shiva'.
In the film, Kapoor's character discovers he has a connection with fire, and learns to harness it using the help of an ancient secret society.
Director Mukerji says the film is part of a planned trilogy, with deep roots in Hindu mythology.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/F4JVSTKCHVB3XIRF23B5S4GRAQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=3052dec71d96c3585e07cf2e97ca384e01f476dac2a84cebe918420462bef634&width=400&height=225)
Mukerji, centre, on set with Amitabh Bachchan, left, and Kapoor.
Kapoor and Bhatt during a promotional event of the film in New Delhi in 2021. AFP
Kapoor interacts with fans at an event in New Delhi. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/QH6VMC6MRZEX3BXMTOUQRI77RY.jpg?smart=true&auth=86a850764b3907ab94610376cdf4c846e169b599d08820c936c4084d3ca4da76&width=400&height=225)
Mukerji with real-life couple Kapoor and Bhatt. Photo: Ayan Mukerji
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/KLRYM4NOINGTPC5XCHYJ3KYGM4.jpg?smart=true&auth=451b135fc235082047d2cf991f75c0a7f80d7896586b0017385830e74cbc7f30&width=400&height=225)
Bachchan, right, plays Guru, the leader of a secret society. Photo: Ayan Mukerji
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/3UJG42LMLXKWASBTGGSEDFKT3E.jpg?smart=true&auth=73df995b5457437bb280877957f826df962dbee6c149243cd295c9aeb2458bcf&width=400&height=225)
Actress Mouni Roy plays the antagonist Junoon. Photo: Spread Communications
'Brahmastra: Part One - Shiva' review: Bollywood superhero film can't find its own power
Despite being rooted in ancient Indian mythology, the action film borrows heavily from its Hollywood equivalents in structure and vision
David Tusing
09 September, 2022
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