CHENNAI: Mumbai-based actor and fitness model Swati Apsara Rai is reportedly being considered for the lead role in what is being described as India’s first AI-VFX adaptation inspired by the legendary Hollywood film Titanic. According to industry sources, the ambitious project is being developed by Chennai-based Vrindaavan Films in association with filmmaker Maneesh F. Singh.
The upcoming film is expected to combine traditional filmmaking techniques with cutting-edge artificial intelligence and advanced visual effects. Insiders suggest that nearly 50 percent of the movie’s visuals will be created using AI-generated imagery and VFX technology, making it one of the most technologically ambitious Indian productions to date.
While a significant portion of the film will rely on AI-driven cinematic sequences, the live-action segments are expected to be shot across locations in Uttar Pradesh, with Lucknow and its surrounding regions serving as the primary backdrop.
Although no official casting announcement has been made, sources indicate that Swati Apsara Rai has emerged as the frontrunner for the female lead. Besides portraying the central character, she is also expected to lend her voice to the project, should the casting be finalized.
Filmmaker Maneesh F. Singh has earned recognition for exploring unconventional concepts and experimental storytelling in his previous ventures. This latest project is expected to continue that trend by blending historical fiction, romance, and state-of-the-art digital filmmaking.
According to those familiar with the screenplay, the story is set during the late nineteenth century and follows an Indian Maharaja embarking on a lavish sea voyage to England aboard a magnificent luxury liner. On the return journey, tragedy strikes when the vessel sinks in the middle of the ocean. Despite the catastrophe, the Maharaja, the Maharani, and several members of their royal entourage survive after being rescued by another passing ship. While the shipwreck draws inspiration from a historical maritime disaster, the characters and narrative are entirely fictional.
Speaking about the vision behind the film, director Maneesh F. Singh said the project aims to present a distinctly Indian interpretation of a grand maritime romance.
“Bollywood has always been known for creating spectacles on a grand scale. This film blends history with fiction. Although the shipwreck is inspired by a real historical incident, the storyline itself is completely fictional. The narrative revolves around Indian characters and Indian love stories, with the romance unfolding aboard a magnificent ocean liner instead of the conventional settings often associated with Bollywood. We are planning to create an enormous ship—possibly even larger than the original Titanic. The film is being mounted on a budget exceeding ₹500 crore, with nearly half of that investment dedicated to AI-generated visuals and advanced VFX.”
If the project moves forward as planned, it could become one of India’s most expensive AI-assisted cinematic ventures, combining large-scale production values with emerging technologies to reimagine one of cinema’s most celebrated disaster romances for Indian audiences.