Mahesh Babu Invests in Shortgun Games' PC and Console Push

Mahesh Babu, a star of Telugu cinema, has become a strategic investor in Shortgun Games. The Mumbai-based studio is building original video games for personal computers and modern consoles. The size of Babu's investment was not disclosed.

Shortgun Games was founded by Jeet Chandan and Vidhit Mehta. The company decided early on to avoid the mobile market. That sector has long dominated India's digital entertainment industry. Instead, the founders focused on creating franchise-scale intellectual property for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S.

The studio's first major release is titled 'Project Takedown.' It is a big-budget, story-driven action-adventure game. The title is designed to compete with international releases in North America, Europe, and the United Kingdom.

Babu currently leads the production of S.S. Rajamouli's upcoming film 'Varanasi.' He said he joined because of the founders' clear ambition. "What drew me to this company is Jeet Chandan and Vidhit Mehta’s clarity of ambition and their drive to create high-end PC and console experiences that stand shoulder-to-shoulder with international studio benchmarks," Babu said.

The studio hired action director Vicky Arora to handle fight sequences. Arora has worked on films including 'Uri: The Surgical Strike' and 'RRR.' His team manages motion-capture choreography and physical stunt work. Those live performances are fed directly into the game's development pipeline.

Mehta, who serves as a director of the studio, called the investment a milestone. "Having Mahesh Babu sir come on board alongside Jeet and me as a strategic investor is an extraordinary milestone," Mehta said. He added that Babu's understanding of storytelling elevates the vision for 'Project Takedown.'

Chandan stated the studio's goal is to create lasting franchises that travel beyond regional borders. "Mahesh Babu sir’s trust in our roadmap provides a massive vote of confidence for our entire team," Chandan said. Beyond 'Project Takedown,' the studio's slate includes 'Roll ’em Out,' a cooperative indie game.