EXCLUSIVE: Filming is underway in Colombia and India on bilingual political thriller White, a feature about Indian guru Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar’s role in Colombia’s peace process.
Leading the cast as Gurudev is Vikrant Massey who recently won India’s National Award for Best Actor for his breakout turn in 12th Fail. Darío Yazbek Bernal (The House of Flowers), the younger brother of Gael García Bernal, plays Francisco, whose search for peace leads him to Gurudev in India.
Jaime Newball (Narcos, Loving Pablo) plays Plomo, a FARC commander who confronts Gurudev. Additional confirmed cast includes José Restrepo (A Mother, Narcos) as Alberto.
The 52-year war between the Colombian government and the FARC (The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia) claimed more than 260,000 lives and displaced millions, making it one of the world’s longest and bloodiest conflicts. White dramatizes Gurudev’s encounters with FARC leaders during peace negotiations in Havana and Bogotá, while also following three young Colombians, Alberto, Carlos, and Francisco, whose lives are torn apart by violence.
The film revisits key moments such as the Cali Assembly hostage crisis in 2002 and a significant “forgiveness meeting” between victims’ families and perpetrators. The events culminated in the 2016 signing of Colombia’s peace accord, for which Gurudev received Colombia’s highest civilian honor in recognition of his role. That same year, President Juan Manuel Santos was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.
Written and directed by Montoo Bassi, the film is being shot in Cali, Bogotá, the Colombian jungles, and is aiming to shoot at the Art of Living International Center in India. The project is produced by special investment vehicles Peacecraft Picture (Hongkong) and Conscious Studios (USA).
Jacques Toulemonde Vidal, writer on Oscar nominee Embrace Of The Serpent, co-wrote the Spanish-language portions of the script. Members of the creative team behind Netflix’s Narcos are also said to be on board.
Lyca Productions (London) and Broadvision Perspectives (India) are serving as executive producers, with Mahaveer Jain Films (India) as development producer. Jaguar Bite (Colombia) is handling line production of the film in Colombia.
Bassi spent six years developing the script. “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 drop violence?” he said. “This chapter of Gurudev’s life is one of the most remarkable peace stories of our time…At its core, White is about what happens when forgiveness collides with vengeance, and when living spirituality meets political ideology.”
“This chapter in Gurudev’s life is an epic story of how love triumphs and transforms – in this case, the fate of a nation,” Massey commented.
“The first time I read the script, I cried,” Yazbek Bernal added. “What moved me most was how it speaks from a deeply human perspective, not a political one. Coming from Latin America, I felt echoes of Mexico and Colombia throughout.”
The producers are aiming for a 2026 festival and awards run for the movie. Producer Broadvision will be meeting with sales agents and distributors during the upcoming CineLatam, MIPCOM and American Film Markets. Conscious Studios has applied for permission to film in India.
The project was approved to receive the FFC Cash Rebate, granted by the Colombian government and administered by Proimágenes Colombia.
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.
