Filming of the highly anticipated political thriller White has commenced, featuring a stellar cast led by Vikrant Massey and Darío Yazbek Bernal, as it delves into the intricate narrative of Colombia’s peace process.
EXCLUSIVE: Filming of the Political Thriller White Begins
Filming is currently underway in Colombia and India for the bilingual political thriller White, which explores Indian guru Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar’s pivotal role in Colombia’s peace process.
Stellar Cast
Leading the cast as Gurudev is Vikrant Massey, who recently won India’s National Award for Best Actor for his outstanding performance in 12th Fail. Darío Yazbek Bernal (The House of Flowers), younger brother of Gael García Bernal, portrays Francisco, a character whose quest for peace leads him to Gurudev in India.
Supporting Characters
Jaime Newball (Narcos, Loving Pablo) plays Plomo, a FARC commander who confronts Gurudev. Additional cast members include José Restrepo (A Mother, Narcos) as Alberto.
Historical Context
The film addresses the 52-year conflict between the Colombian government and the FARC (The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia), which resulted in over 260,000 deaths and millions displaced, marking it as one of the world’s longest and bloodiest conflicts. White dramatizes Gurudev’s interactions with FARC leaders during peace negotiations held in Havana and Bogotá, while also following three young Colombians—Alberto, Carlos, and Francisco—whose lives are shattered by violence.
Key Events Revisited
The narrative revisits significant events, including the Cali Assembly hostage crisis in 2002 and a crucial “forgiveness meeting” between victims’ families and perpetrators. These events led to the 2016 signing of Colombia’s peace accord, for which Gurudev was awarded the country’s highest civilian honor. That same year, President Juan Manuel Santos received the Nobel Peace Prize.
Production Details
Written and directed by Montoo Bassi, the film is being shot in Cali, Bogotá, and the Colombian jungles, with plans to film at the Art of Living International Center in India. The project is produced by special investment vehicles Peacecraft Picture (Hongkong) and Conscious Studios (USA).
Creative Team
Jacques Toulemonde Vidal, a writer on the Oscar-nominated Embrace Of The Serpent, co-wrote the Spanish-language segments of the script. Members of the creative team behind Netflix’s Narcos are also involved in the project.
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Executive Production
Lyca Productions (London) and Broadvision Perspectives (India) are serving as executive producers, with Mahaveer Jain Films (India) as the development producer. Jaguar Bite (Colombia) is managing the film’s line production in Colombia.
Development Insights
Bassi dedicated six years to developing the script. He expressed, “What are the odds that an Indian guru who doesn’t speak Spanish would spend time with hardened FARC guerrillas in Cuba, teach them breathing and meditation, and inspire them to abandon violence? This chapter of Gurudev’s life is one of the most remarkable peace stories of our time. At its core, White is about the intersection of forgiveness and vengeance, and the meeting of spirituality and political ideology.”
Cast Reflections
Massey remarked, “This chapter in Gurudev’s life is an epic story of how love triumphs and transforms the fate of a nation.” Yazbek Bernal added, “The first time I read the script, I cried. What moved me most was its deeply human perspective, transcending politics. Coming from Latin America, I felt echoes of Mexico and Colombia throughout.”
Future Plans
The producers aim for a 2026 festival and awards run for the film. Broadvision will engage with sales agents and distributors at upcoming events like CineLatam, MIPCOM, and American Film Markets. Conscious Studios has sought permission to film in India.
Funding Approval
The project has been approved for the FFC Cash Rebate, provided by the Colombian government and administered by Proimágenes Colombia.
Representation
Vikrant Massey is represented by NNCO-Collective LLP. Darío Yazbek Bernal is represented by COLOüRS. Jaime Newball is represented by TN Management. José Restrepo is represented by María Clara Lopez. Jacques Toulemonde Vidal is represented by Talent On The Road Management.
