Ashutosh Gowariker has not let the debacle of Mohenjo Daro from trying to avoid the risky route with his next. He is going back in time again for his next, though this time not as far as the Harappan civilization. Also this time, he would be making something based out of history rather than a fantasy adventure that Mohenjo Daro was. He has roped in Arjun Kapoor, Sanjay Dutt and Kriti Sanon to make a movie on the one of Battles of Panipat. Titled Panipat, the makers have revealed the first look of the movie.

Panipat is reportedly based on the third battle of Panipat, where Arjun Kapoor might be playing Sadashiv Rao Bhau, popularly known as Bhausaheb. Bhausaheb had been the Commander-in-Chief of the Panipat army when they took on the Afghan army. As the poster says, it is going to be about the Great Betrayal. Sanjay Dutt is reportedly playing the primary antagonist and he might take on the role of Ahmad Shah Abdali, the Sultan of Durrani Empire, who heads the Afghan Army. Can we sense another Padmaavat here?

In an earlier report that came out in Free press Journal, a trade source had revealed, “There are many powerful characters in Ashutosh’s film besides Sadashiv Rao Bhau. It is believed that the death of Vishwas Rao, the eldest son of Balaji Baji Rao, Peshwa of Pune (the prime minister and de facto ruler/administrator) and also the heir to the title of Peshwa of Maratha Empire, was a turning point in the third battle of Panipat and brought about victory for the Afghans. Ashutosh has done his research already in the last one year but is keeping the project under wraps as he wants to announce it in a big way. As Sanj plays Abdali, his role is very powerful and brave. He is a warrior and also a poet.”

Panipat is scheduled to release on December 6, 2019.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Mar 14, 2018 11:00 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).