India’s VFX Revolution: IGN India Talks to yFX Studio on the High-Flying, Bombastic Visuals of the Shah Rukh Khan-Starrer Pathaan

As part of India’s VFX Revolution series, we have already showcased some prominent examples of the evolution of visual effects and its use in the country. This evolution has transformed the landscape of films across India in a dramatic way over the last decade or so.

Starting with the development of Ra.One in the early 2010s, the budget and scale of the VFX in sci-fi and action genre films in India have increased tremendously. This has helped filmmakers to produce some massive projects such as S.S. Rajamouli with RRR and Ayan Mukerji with Brahmastra.

In the latest episode of the series, the focus shifts to Pathaan, India’s biggest blockbuster of 2023 starring the one-and-only Shah Rukh Khan. Directed by Siddharth Anand of War fame, the film sees Khan play the role of an exiled Indian spy. He returns to save his nation from a rogue Indian agent. The film also stars Deepika Padukone and John Abraham.

In our breakdown of Pathaan’s VFX, we spoke to yFX Studios Head Sherry Bharda, and VFX Supervisors Lennard Pinto and Huseini Barodawala. During our chat, we spoke in detail about yFX Studio’s journey, especially Bharda’s history with YRF head honcho, Aditya Chopra.

Moving on, the trio talked about their experience working with Khan and Anand. They also shared details about the brief they received about Pathaan prior to filming. They then share tidbits about the film’s various action sequences, such as Khan’s entry scene in the beginning of the film.

The episode also deep dives into the iconic post-interval scene involving Shah Rukh Khan’s Pathaan and Salman Khan’s Tiger in the film.

You can watch all the episodes of India’s VFX Revolution on the IGN India YouTube channel.