FutureWorks played a pivotal role in the making of Kesari Chapter 2, supporting the project from pre-production through to final delivery. Its involvement began with storyboarding and previs, working closely with the filmmakers to plan and visualise key sequences.

Laying the groundwork for VFX through previs

Before principal photography began, the FutureWorks team developed detailed previsualisations for key sequences, including the Jallianwala Bagh massacre and the train platform scenes throughout the film. These visualisations provided the director and DoP with a clear visual blueprint, allowing for precise planning of camera angles, environment layouts, and crowd timing.

“Previsualisation played a crucial role in ensuring these sequences were executed smoothly,” says FutureWorks VFX Supervisor Vinay Chuphal. “It allowed us to define the technical requirements early — everything from lighting conditions to movement choreography — while also supporting the director's vision for mood, pacing, and storytelling.”

The previs phase informed all subsequent technical decisions, from location lighting to digital crowd placement. It also enabled departments to align closely on scene composition and timing, which was critical for sequences shot entirely on green screen, such as the train platform. This early planning was further reinforced by comprehensive on-set tests and data capture, ensuring that the transition from concept to final composite was efficient, accurate, and creatively unified.

On-set data acquisition and post-production workflow

During the shoot, we captured comprehensive reference data, including LIDAR scans, still photographs, HDRI domes, grey and chrome ball references, and Macbeth ColourChecker charts. This data set enabled the CGI team to begin asset development early, ensuring accuracy and consistency when creating digital environments and elements.

“Once the client delivered the edited sequence, balanced EXR files were routed from the DI timeline — managed by our post production team and Senior Colourist, Tushar Desai. These plates, along with all relevant metadata, were ingested into our Flow-based pipeline (aka ShotGrid), giving our artists full access to the materials required for their shots,” continues Chuphal.

Remembering Jallianwala Bagh

According to Chuphal, two of the most technically and emotionally demanding sequences on this show were the recreation of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre and the train platform scenes — both made possible through the integration of live-action footage and visual effects.

Since the original Jallianwala Bagh site no longer exists in its 1919 form, the entire ground and surrounding architecture had to be digitally reconstructed. This fully CG environment not only allowed for historical accuracy but also gave the team complete freedom to design dynamic camera movements — including jib, drone, and tracking shots — without physical constraints.

Similarly, the train platform scenes, seen throughout the film, were shot entirely on green screen due to tight production timelines and the lack of access to period-accurate trains. With no physical train compartments or engine references available, the entire train station environment and trains were digitally created in CGI. “These sequences in various lighting conditions required actors to perform close to where CG trains would later be inserted,” says Chuphal. “This introduced complex challenges such as green spill on costumes, precise crowd interactions with CG doors, and the need to convincingly integrate actors into a highly realistic, close-up digital train environment.”

The Jallianwala Bagh massacre scene demanded not only technical expertise but creative sensitivity. In addition to extensive CG building work and environment extensions — which underwent multiple rounds of testing and refinement — the sequence required the creation of digital crowds and detailed composites to reflect the aftermath of the massacre. Time constraints on set meant that extras were filmed without blood makeup or costume changes, so all blood, bullet impacts, and physical damage could be added digitally. The chaotic crowd movements and emotional weight of the scene made this one of the most demanding parts of the project.

We overcame these challenges through rigorous planning, detailed previs, and sophisticated compositing workflows. By utilising Katana's powerful look dev and lighting workflow — integrated with the Nuke bridge function for real-time previews — artists were able to light CG elements with greater accuracy and seamlessly blend them into live-action plates. To enhance realism, digital crowds simulated in Golaem and CG bodies were layered in during post.

Substantial collaboration with invisible results

The success of Kesari Chapter 2 is rooted in the strength of its collaboration. From the outset, we operated not just as a service provider but as a creative technical partner. “As VFX Supervisor, I had the opportunity to engage closely with the director, production designer, and DoP — relationships built on trust from previous collaborations. This rapport created an open, communicative environment where creative ideas and technical needs could be exchanged freely and efficiently.

This spirit of teamwork extended through every phase of the project and with every department aligned, we were able to approach each sequence with clarity, ensuring our visual effects enhanced the story without ever overshadowing it,” concludes Chuphal.

And in the end, that's what resonated most. The production team's most meaningful feedback wasn't about a specific shot or sequence — it was that the VFX work went unnoticed. It was never the spectacle, but the story, that held the audience's focus. In a film steeped in historical weight, this invisible integration of visual effects stands as one of the project's greatest accomplishments. It's a testament not just to technical execution, but to the power of collaborative filmmaking.