A glowing bow, a flying chariot, a city split apart in a blink. You’ve seen moments like these on screen; grand, surreal, impossible. But they feel real. They pull you in, make you believe, and leave you questioning how that was done.
The answer? VFX.
What used to be limited to Hollywood blockbusters is now transforming Indian cinema too. From the landscapes of Baahubali to VFX movies like Kalki 2898 AD, visual effects have become an integral part of cinematic storytelling.
But what is VFX and how does it work behind the scenes? In this article, we will cover the world of VFX in Indian cinema, exploring techniques, iconic milestones, modern marvels, and the exciting future that lies ahead. Whether you’re a film geek, a curious viewer, or someone dreaming of building worlds from pixels, this one’s for you.
What is VFX in Movie Making?
VFX, short for visual effects – is digitally created or enhanced imagery that’s added to a film during post-production allowing filmmakers to create environments, objects, creatures, and even people that would be impractical or impossible to film in a live-action shot.
Whether it’s a dragon flying across the sky, a collapsing skyscraper, or a time-traveling character, VFX helps bring these visions to life. It is because of these abilities that in recent years, the visual effects industry has grown rapidly, with market revenue growing at a CAGR of 12.12% from 2022-2030.
While many people consider visual effects in movies to be a type of special effects, there is a significant difference between VFX and traditional special effects (SFX), because visual effects necessitate the use of a computer and are added after the shooting is finished (i.e post production).
VFX can make use of rotoscoping, which involves cutting out on-screen elements frame by frame and hiding or moving them elsewhere. This method is far more efficient and time-efficient than drawing images by hand. Special effects, or SFX, are created on set and include things like purposeful and controlled explosions, fake gunshot wounds, and so on.
Most movies use both visual and special effects at the same time. The visual effects team in Disney’s 2019 adaptation of Dumbo first created photorealistic 3D clay models of Dumbo, the elephant. These physical models were then digitally scanned and rendered for animation on a computer. To ensure that the visual effects scaling were correct, they used life-size physical models of Dumbo for the actors to sit on and interact with.
VFX in Indian Cinema: What are VFX Techniques?
If you’ve ever watched a film where gods descend from the skies, cities collapse in seconds, or a demon morphs mid-battle, you’ve witnessed the magic of VFX. These cinematic moments are powered by VFX techniques that bring imagination to life. Be it a shape-shifting villain or a divine spacecraft, VFX in movies make the impossible feel real. To understand how Indian filmmakers achieve this magic, we need to look at the tools and methods used in VFX .
Core tools and methods used in VFX today
CGI: Computer-generated imagery (CGI) is a type of visual effects in movies. It only uses computers to generate images, whereas other types use them to enhance or combine live-action footage. These images can be 2D or 3D. A 3D representation of an image, on the other hand, helps you achieve the best visual impact.
Compositing: Compositing is a VFX film making technique. In this, visual elements from various sources are combined to create a single image. The single image gives the impression that all of the visual elements are from the same scene.
Stop Motion: Stop motion animation is a type of visual effects in movies that has a certain allure. From old classics like King Kong to 2015’s Oscar-nominated Anomalisa – Stop motion has the power to expose fully posable models one frame at a time. It comes with a certain texture that CGI can never replicate. To create the illusion of motion, figures such as dolls, toy vehicles, clay, or just about any raw material a filmmaker may wish to animate are painstakingly filmed in dozens of poses per second of film.
Modern VFX in Indian cinema uses these techniques to tell larger-than-life stories. The grandeur of Adipurush, the sci-fi landscapes of Kalki, or the underwater beauty of Brahmastra, the visual effects in these movies are designed to push creative boundaries.
And if you’re wondering what VFX software is used in movies, some of the industry favorites include –
Interested in exploring the tools that power modern visual effects? Check out our guide to the 5 Best VFX Software Tools in 2025
Each of these tools allows VFX artists to shape imagination into screen reality. But at the heart of every tool is the human skill to use it well. That’s what makes VFX not just technology, but art.
What role does VFX Play In Indian Movies?
VFX in Indian cinema is now a vital part of how stories are told on screen. What once supported a plot with the occasional explosion or magical element now shapes the very foundation of visual storytelling. Whether it’s myth, memory, or modern sci-fi, VFX in movies have become central to cinematic narratives across genres.
To fit a complex story which can be adapted from novels or folklore; into a three-hour film, directors rely on strong visual metaphors. What a writer might describe in paragraphs now needs to be shown instantly and convincingly. This is where VFX techniques come in, helping filmmakers translate imagination into visual reality.
In 2025, the role of VFX in Indian movies extends across –
- Historical dramas like Tanhaji or RRR, where epic battles and massive landscapes are brought to life with digital layering.
- Mythological retellings such as Adipurush and Kalki 2898 AD. They where entire worlds, gods, and cosmic forces are visualized using cutting-edge VFX.
- Science fiction and superhero films like the Krrish series or Robot, where action sequences and superhuman abilities are driven by special effects.
- Artistic and surreal moments in films like Tamasha or Jagga Jasoos, where VFX supports metaphorical or dreamlike sequences.
But the influence of visual effects in Indian cinema doesn’t stop with feature films. VFX is now also shaping advertising, branded content, and digital storytelling across industries. With most consumers being visual learners, animated explainer videos and VFX-led branding experiences help businesses connect better with their audiences.
In fact, 9 out of 10 Hollywood films now rely on VFX, and India is quickly catching up. The purpose of visual effects is not only to make fantasy believable, but to help filmmakers express ideas that may be impossible to film. When done well, VFX in movies blends seamlessly into the story that the audience forgets the magic is digital.
The Evolution of VFX in Indian Cinema
The journey of VFX in Indian cinema has been long. From the early use of visual tricks to CGI-driven epics, Indian films have evolved.
While the global industry has long embraced computer-generated imagery, India’s VFX story began much earlier than most people realize. Even India’s first feature film Raja Harishchandra (1913) used practical special effects for its mythological storytelling. But the real turning point for VFX movies in India came much later.
Let’s rewind –
- Early 2000s: Films like Koi Mil Gaya (2003) and Krrish (2006) introduced Indian audiences to large-scale CGI and science fiction storytelling. These movies were among the first to blend superhero themes with digital visual effects in Bollywood.
- 2010s: Titles such as Ra.One (2011), Eega (2012), and Shivaay (2016) raised the bar with more complex VFX sequences, including creature effects, large-scale action scenes, and fantasy world-building.
- 2015–2017: The Baahubali franchise was a game-changer. With over 4,500 VFX shots across two films, it proved that Indian cinema could deliver the best VFX movies that rival global blockbusters in both scale and quality.
- 2020s: Brahmastra, Adipurush, and Kalki 2898 AD pushed visual storytelling to new heights. These films use VFX to build cinematic universes. VFX in Indian cinema has become the heart of world-building and mythological storytelling.
Despite these leaps, many still argue that Bollywood, in particular, hasn’t fully tapped into the potential of India’s VFX talent. In fact, major Hollywood studios frequently outsource work to Indian VFX companies for big-budget VFX movies, acknowledging the skill and cost-efficiency of Indian professionals.
And yet, apart from franchises like Baahubali, Robot/Enthiran, 2.0, RRR, and select hits like Zero or the Dhoom and Krrish series, much of mainstream Bollywood has been slow to embrace large-scale computer graphics in filmmaking.
Curious about how motion illusions work outside of cinema? Learn about the science behind it in our explainer on Lenticular Printing.
But change is clearly underway. Today, Indian studios are using advanced VFX software and techniques on par with global standards.The demand for skilled VFX artists has skyrocketed, and audiences are now more appreciative and expectant of seamless, high-quality digital visuals.
As VFX in movies continues to evolve, Indian cinema is finally beginning to match its storytelling ambition with the visual tools to match.
VFX in Indian Cinema: Best Bollywood Movies With Jaw-Dropping VFX
Indian filmmakers have adopted VFX to enhance storytelling, build immersive worlds and create unforgettable visuals. This evolution of VFX in can be seen through these standout films –
Magadheera (2009)
SS Rajamouli’s blockbuster Magadheera stands tall as one of the early landmark VFX movies in Indian cinema. With beautiful cinematography and heavy CGI use, it visualized grand battlefields, aerial stunts, and mystical reincarnation sequences that captivated audiences and critics alike.
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Ra.One (2011)
Starring Shahrukh Khan, Ra.One brought large-scale superhero VFX to Bollywood. From digitally-rendered villains to slow-motion action shots and city-scale destruction, it was a big leap for CGI in Indian movies at the time and is remembered as one of the best VFX movies.
Bhaag Milkha Bhaag (2013)
Based on the life of Milkha Singh, this biopic featured over 150 VFX-enhanced shots, particularly in the Commonwealth, Rome, and Tokyo stadium scenes. VFX teams digitally recreated crowds and award ceremonies, blending seamlessly with real footage.
Chennai Express (2013)
From train jump scenes to flaming market stalls, Chennai Express heavily used visual effects to simulate outdoor action and dramatic set pieces. What seemed like real locations were often digitally crafted environments, making it to the list of the best VFX movies.
Fan (2016)
Although Fan underperformed at the box office, it remains one of India’s best technical VFX movies. The challenge of portraying Shahrukh Khan in two different ages and looks was met with impressive CGI work, body double integration, and facial mapping.
Baahubali: The Beginning (2015) & Baahubali: The Conclusion (2017)
These epic fantasy films set a new benchmark for VFX in Indian cinema. From majestic palaces to gravity-defying battles, nearly every frame was digitally enhanced. Over 15 VFX companies collaborated to bring the fictional kingdom of Mahishmati to life. This franchise has been immensely loved by the audiences making its way to the list of the best VFX movies in Indian cinema.
2.0 (2018)
Rajinikanth and Akshay Kumar’s 2.0 was a visual spectacle with electromagnetic attacks, sci-fi environments, and large-scale destruction scenes. It blended science fiction with a strong environmental message, executed through top-tier visual effects.
RRR (2022)
While not a fantasy film, RRR used VFX for hyper-stylized battle sequences, wild animal scenes, and explosive action that felt both grounded and mythic. Its seamless blending of computer-generated visuals into historical fiction impressed audiences worldwide, and marked its place in the list of some of the best VFX movies.
Brahmastra: Part One – Shiva (2022)
This fantasy epic merged mythology with modern visual storytelling. Brahmastra introduced audiences to a mystical universe filled with astral energy, VFX-crafted magic, and elemental action sequences – a first for Indian cinema in scope and scale.
Kalki 2898 AD (2024)
A rather recent addition to Indian VFX movies, Kalki 2898 AD mixes Mahabharata-inspired storytelling with Blade Runner-style visuals. Featuring digital creatures, high-tech cities, and celestial action, it’s a bold new frontier in Indian VFX filmmaking.
Final Thoughts
With advancements in technology and the demand for grand narratives, visual effects are now shaping the kind of stories being narrated. Whether it’s the mythical grandeur of Baahubali, the futuristic world of Kalki 2898 AD, or the astral visuals in Brahmastra, VFX in Indian movies is setting new creative benchmarks.
As VFX quality rises, so does the need for better viewing experiences. Discover what’s next in screen tech with our feature on The Future of Television Technology.With upcoming VFX-heavy films like Ramayana creating buzz, the future of VFX in Indian cinema looks bright. If you’re a filmmaker pushing the boundaries of digital storytelling, a budding VFX artist or just a fan of jaw-dropping visuals, this evolution is worth watching.
