Sidharth Malhotra stars in new eco-thriller film about nature and development

The new movie titled The Vvaan: Force of the Forest explores the clash between environmental protection and modern development for audiences seeking grand mythical stories. Directed by Deepak Kumar Mishra, the film is produced through a collaboration between Arunabh Kumar and Ekta Kapoor. Actor Sidharth Malhotra plays Rishi, a practical professional who travels back to his family home with his wife Mamta, played by Tamannaah Bhatia, to sell off property he inherited. This puts him right in the middle of a heated dispute over building a new road through the local forest to shorten travel times to the city. A group led by a character named Deepak, played by Sunil Grover, pushes for the road project to secure better rates, while traditional villagers like Rishi's brother Shashi, played by Anup Soni, and sister-in-law, played by Shweta Tiwari, fear angering the forest goddess and bringing down a curse. Rishi has lost his belief in the deity because of an event in his past, but Mamta stays devoted. Trouble begins when Rishi breaks the sacred rule against entering the woods after dark, leading to chaos that highlights a warning about harming nature. Reviewers note that while the movie tackles a relevant theme, its execution mixes television soap opera styles with predictable plot turns, recycling comedic gags and relying on artificial-looking set designs for the forest background. The film is currently playing in cinemas.