Karan Johar’s ambitious period drama Takht silently vanished from release calendars but those involved with the project say the film is far from forgotten.

The film was announced in 2020 with a high-profile cast including Ranveer Singh, Alia Bhatt, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Vicky Kaushal, Janhvi Kapoor and Anil Kapoor.

Related: After 'Dhurandhar' success, Karan Johar drops hint on 'Takht' comeback

Planned for a Christmas 2021 release, the project later disappeared from Dharma Productions’ slate, leaving fans wondering what happened.

Actor Mahir Pandhi, who was also part of the film, has now shared details about the challenges that stopped the project from moving forward.

Speaking to Mid-Day, he said, “Takht was not a normal film. It was Mr Yash Johar’s last dream project and had a historic connection to it. When you write a script based on history, you can’t change the facts. Once COVID happened, it became extremely difficult to bring together so many actors and align their dates."

He added, “Even if you wanted to plan it two years later, it would have been impossible to get the entire cast together. And if you make Takht today, you would have to rewrite the script from scratch because the audience has changed."

According to Mahir the film’s budget had crossed Rs 200 crore, making it one of the biggest projects planned by the studio.

The actor also spoke about his personal disappointment after the film stalled. “I was almost living that dream. I was being invited to parties, and they made me feel welcome. I was made to feel like a part of the film."

Despite the setback, Karan recently told Hindustan Times that the project is not dead. “But Takht is a film I will definitely make while I can still breathe and stand on my feet,” he said, keeping alive hopes of its eventual return.