Mumbai, April 24: Bollywood superstar Aamir Khan has officially confirmed that he will begin work on his long-awaited dream project, Mahabharata, this year. After years of speculation and planning, the Dangal actor is finally moving forward with what is expected to be one of the most ambitious Indian films ever made.

In an interview with Hollywood Reporter India, Aamir revealed that he will not only produce the epic saga but also act in it. “The Mahabharata is a project very close to my heart,” he said, adding that the film will be made in multiple parts to do justice to the vast scale of the story.

While he did not reveal the name of the director, Aamir hinted that multiple directors might be involved as the different parts are planned to be shot simultaneously.

Despite production beginning this year, Aamir stated that the release will take a few more years, owing to the massive scale and complexity of the project. He also confirmed that the budget will exceed ₹1,000 crore, making it the costliest Indian film ever produced.

Apart from Mahabharata, Aamir is currently preparing for the release of his upcoming film Sitare Zameen Par, a Hindi remake of the Spanish film Champions. Directed by RS Prasanna, the movie is scheduled to hit theatres on June 20.

Aamir will also appear in a cameo role in Lokesh Kanagaraj and Rajinikanth’s Coolie, which is set for release on June 14.