Actor Pankaj Tripathi is gearing up to collaborate with Amit Rai on his upcoming film. Amit Rai, the writer-director known for the 2023 success OMG 2, is making his comeback with a new project titled Dharma. Starring Pankaj Tripathi, the film is characterized as a profoundly emotional and original narrative rooted in environmental issues and moral integrity, featuring a prominent international technical team.

Dharma, which has recently completed filming in Bihar, also stars renowned actors Pawan Malhotra, Geeta Agrawal, Rajesh Kumar, along with various talents from the Bhojpuri film sector. However, the true highlight is the esteemed international crew working behind the scenes on the film.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Hungarian cinematographer Mátyás (Mate) Erdély, celebrated for his work on the Oscar-nominated film On Body and Soul, is collaborating with Rai to provide the film with a unique visual style. American action and motion-capture expert Isaac Hamon, known for his contributions to Avengers: Endgame, Avatar: The Way of Water, and War for the Planet of the Apes, has choreographed the action sequences.

Rai mentions that Dharma was inspired by a moment from the Mahabharata that has lingered in his mind. He states, “The essence of this story traces back to when Yudhishthira arrived at the gates of heaven. A dog had been with him and his family throughout their journey. When the gates opened, Yudhishthira chose not to enter without the dog. It’s a straightforward story, yet profoundly symbolic—illustrating the equilibrium between humans and nature, and how disrupting that balance leads to significant repercussions in the world.”

The film, as Rai elaborates, depicts the parallel paths of a kidnapped boy and the dog that protects him, alongside a boy desperately searching for his missing dog. “Both are motivated by loyalty and love, adhering to their Dharma,” he explains.

“I never regarded the dog merely as an animal; in my narratives, he was a true hero, acting as if he were human. Naturally, I understood that on set, the dog might not perform exactly as scripted. Therefore, we enlisted the help of professional trainers and an international action director—someone with experience on Planet of the Apes and Justice League,” the filmmaker remarks.

The contributions of Erdély and Hamon, according to Rai, were crucial to the film’s artistic vision. “The film had to be visually impressive and action-oriented, so I concentrated on those two fundamental aspects. Their knowledge brought significant value and elevated the film to a new level,” the filmmaker concluded.