First Feature Film Project: Beherupiyo
Updated: Sep 17
Beherupiyo (Gujarati: બહેરૂપિયો, meaning “a shapeshifter” or “one who assumes multiple forms”) is a supernatural horror-thriller based on Gujarati folklore. In order to support the supernatural aspects of the stories while being subjected to physical set and budget limitations, utilizing VFX has played a major part in creating the ambience for this film and aiding the visual story-telling process.
Ek Number Studios were brought on board by RSC Films to deliver VFX and motion graphics across the project. Having delivered 400+ VFX shots, including fog compositing, blue-screen removal, background replacement and integration, photo-frame replacement, wire removal, scene enhancement, supernatural power effects, tracking, and AI animation sequences.
Our work also extended to the film’s promotional assets, including the 2 Teaser, Trailer, and a Poster—from title-frame slate animation and compositing to text sequences, background treatments, and the integration of film footage.
This breakdown takes a closer look at the creative and technical process behind bringing Beherupiyo’s supernatural elements to screen.
Our Process
Our VFX pipeline for Beherupiyo began in December 2025, with a workflow designed to maintain consistency, streamline approvals, and ensure smooth progress across a large number of shots.
We followed a structured two-stage approach. First, we created a basic VFX pass for each shot, focusing on camera tracking, placement, timing, and the overall integration of the effect. This version was then reviewed and approved by the director before moving into detailed production.
Once the overall direction was locked, we refined each shot by replacing temporary elements—such as backgrounds, environments, and supernatural effects—with their final, high-detail assets. This allowed us to establish the creative direction early while keeping the production process efficient.
For final delivery, all shots were rendered in EXR format, with individual elements exported as separate EXR layers. This gave the color grading team greater flexibility and control over individual elements during the final grading process, while maintaining maximum image quality throughout the pipeline.
Software and Plug-ins used for the post-production VFX were Adobe After Effects, Adobe Photoshop, Red Giant by Maxon and Mocha Pro.
VFX BREAKDOWN
We delivered 400+ VFX shots for Beherupiyo, working across a diverse range of visual effects techniques and creative challenges. Throughout the project, we explored different approaches to achieve the desired visual language while finding practical and creative solutions for each shot.
In the sections below, we break down the different types of VFX work we undertook, along with the challenges we encountered and the creative solutions we developed to bring each shot to life.
Blue-screen removal and Background Integration
Wire-removal
Screen/Frame replacement
Fog compositing
Scene enhancement VFX
Supernatural VFX
Superpower VFX
AI animation sequences
1) BLUE SCREEN REMOVAL & BACKGROUND INTEGRATION
Background replacement was the largest chunk of our VFX work on the film, accounting for around 200 shots on its own. Each shot presented its own set of challenges—from extracting and tracking subjects to matching perspective, lighting, colour, and atmosphere with the replacement environment.
Process: Removed the blue screen using Keylight in After Effects, followed by motion or 3D camera tracking depending on the shot. We then used the tracking data to accurately place and integrate the replacement background, matching its color, lighting, perspective, and depth. Additional blur was applied to create a natural depth-of-field effect.
Challenges: Achieving a clean key while avoiding visible blue edges, unwanted spill, or loss of important pixel information from the original footage.
Solution: Used rotoscoping to isolate characters and foreground elements, ensuring that no important image information was lost during the keying process. Edge blur was then applied to create a smoother transition between the subject and the replacement background. Tracking markers and other unwanted elements were removed through targeted masking and cleanup.
2) WIRE REMOVAL Although wire removal was required for only a handful of shots, it was a meticulous process that demanded a high level of precision and attention to detail to ensure seamless results.
Process: Created clean plates of the objects and surrounding environment in Photoshop. Tracked the movement of the objects and specific areas where the wires overlapped, then integrated the clean plates into the shot to reconstruct the hidden areas. Characters were rotoscoped separately to remove the wires while preserving their movement and details.
Challenges: Working with complex, detailed, and constantly moving backgrounds, combined with noticeable camera movement.
Solutions: Created individual local tracks for each wire and fine-tuned the tracking parameters frame-by-frame wherever required. Characters and foreground objects were carefully rotoscoped to maintain proper depth and separation, while multiple clean plates were created for specific areas of the frame to achieve a more accurate and natural reconstruction.
3) PHONE/SCREEN REPLACEMENT
Process: Tracking the frame and using the tracking data to apply to the image/video asset, followed by rotoscoping and masking elements that overlap the screen.
Challenges: Swift and drastic camera movements that made tracking difficult, along with matching the asset’s color and lighting to the scene.
Solution: Using manual tracking for certain shots and matching the asset’s exposure, shadows, contrast, and color temperature to the original scene for seamless integration.
4) FOG COMPOSITING
Process: Tracking the shot using Motion Tracking or 3D Camera Tracking based on the camera movement, then selecting scene-appropriate fog assets and applying them using suitable blending modes.
Challenges: Tracking shots with significant camera movement and integrating multiple layers of fog into complex scenes while maintaining a sense of depth and realism.
Solution: Rotoscoping and masking the scene into multiple layers (FG, MG, and BG), then strategically placing fog between these layers to create atmospheric depth and a more realistic fog effect.
5) SCENE ENHANCEMENT VFX
Some scenes required visual enhancement to improve their overall atmosphere and cinematic appeal, such as increasing the vibrancy and richness of the sky or adding elements like the moon and clouds to enhance the night-time environment. These enhancements helped strengthen the mood of the scene while maintaining a natural and believable integration with the existing footage.
Process: Tracking the shot using 3D Camera Tracking or Motion Tracking, then integrating elements such as the moon and clouds using the tracking data, along with rotoscoping foreground and overlapping elements to maintain proper depth and layering.
Challenges: Seamlessly integrating the added assets so they appear naturally embedded within the scene while maintaining consistency with the existing perspective, lighting, and depth.
Solution: Applying the appropriate amount of Camera Lens Blur to match the scene’s depth of field, followed by color correction using Curves and Levels in After Effects to match the exposure, contrast, and overall tone of the integrated elements.
6) SUPERNATURAL VFX
Several scenes required VFX elements such as sparkles and supernatural effects to establish the film’s otherworldly nature. These included moments where Amitash restores a dead rose and instances where the cursed mark appears on the hands of victims and collaborators. Each effect required a different approach based on the visual language and requirements of the shot. [video]
Mark Appearance: The cursed mark was a significant visual symbol throughout the film, providing the audience with a visual cue about the nature of the character. The challenge was to make the mark feel organic and realistic, resembling an actual scar rather than a graphic overlay. We used PowerMesh to track the surface of the skin and integrated the mark with the movement, texture, and deformation of the hand.
Rose Sparkle: Amitash’s introduction was important in establishing the nature of his powers. The sequence shows him restoring a dead rose to its original form. We reconstructed and replaced the damaged rose in post, using detailed tracking to maintain its position and movement within the shot. The replacement was carefully integrated by matching the original lighting, colour, texture, and perspective. We then tracked the scene and added sparkles to visually communicate the healing process.
Mirror Sequence: The sequence was designed to convey the character’s increasingly unsettling delusions. We used the wall design captured on set as a reference, recreated and animated the pattern in After Effects, and composited it onto the original surface. Warp distortion was then introduced to create an unstable, shifting effect that reinforced the hallucination.
Shadow: A few shots featured an unsettling shadow to strengthen the supernatural and horror atmosphere. For these shots, we created an appropriate silhouette, tracked it to the scene, and composited it with the environment while matching the scene’s lighting and tonal values.
7) SUPERPOWER VFX
Process: The climax sequence consisted of multiple shots featuring characters using various superpowers. Each power effect was created using a combination of displacement maps, distortion layers, layered energy assets, chromatic aberration, particle effects, tint, and glow effects to give each ability its own distinct visual identity.
Challenges: Creating unique and visually distinct effects for each character while ensuring that the superpowers felt cohesive with the overall visual style and integrated naturally into the live-action environment.
Solution: Using a variety of video and particle assets, layered with multiple blending modes and customized through color correction and glow effects. Chromatic displacement maps were also used to create heat and energy distortion, helping the effects interact with the surrounding environment and making them feel more physically present within the scene.
8) AI GENERATED SEQUENCES AND ASSETS
Certain sequences in the film were generated using AI, particularly wide location shots that were not captured on set. GenAI also played a valuable role in creating the Hanuman entry sequence, which would traditionally have required advanced 3D skills, complex production work, and significant rendering time. By leveraging AI, the sequence was developed much more efficiently, helping us create complex visuals while working within technical and budgetary limitations.
[video]
The Final Review
Beherupiyo was one of our biggest projects so far in 2026, and it proved to be an incredibly valuable learning experience for the entire team. Working across a large volume of VFX shots taught us the importance of having a well-structured workflow, staying organized, and closely tracking the progress of every shot throughout production.
The project also pushed us to explore new creative techniques, find innovative solutions to production challenges, and make better use of the resources available to us. Managing a project of this scale helped us refine our pipeline and develop a smoother, more efficient approach to production.
We came out of Beherupiyo as a more experienced, technically stronger, and better-equipped studio, ready to take on increasingly complex challenges.
(Final showreel or link to the movie on OTT)
