Karan Johar Announces Maiden Collaboration With Kartik Aaryan On Actor’s 33rd Birthday After ‘Dostana 2’ Fallout
Karan Johar has announced a new film, set to be backed by his production house in collaboration with Ektaa Kapoor’s Balaji Motion Pictures, starring Kartik Aaryan.
Kartik Aaryan, the chocolate boy of Bollywood, has come a long way in his acting journey. He made his big screen debut in a small film ‘Pyaar Ka Punchnama’ in 2011. While the multi-starrer became popular among the youth, Kartik Aaryan struggled for years before touching newer heights of stardom. The Bollywood actor has been open about his struggles while previously revealing that he lived with 12 other aspiring actors in an apartment before his debut. The Bollywood heartthrob’s 2018 movie, ‘Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety’, emerged as his breakthrough film, following which there has been no looking back.
Kartik Aaryan, who was last seen in the hit 2023 Bollywood movie ‘SatyaPrem Ki Katha’ co-starring Kiara Advani, turned a year older today. On the occasion of his 33rd birthday, Karan Johar announced a new film with the Bollywood actor.
Check out the movie’s announcement poster below:
Along with the caption, Karan Johar shared the announcement poster of the film that revealed the key figures associated with the project. Kartik Aaryan will be playing the lead role in the untitled film. Helmed by ‘The Night Manager’ creator Sandeep Modi, the untitled movie is being bankrolled jointly by Dharma Productions and Ektaa Kapoor’s Balaji Motion Pictures.
Kartik Aaryan also shared the announcement on his Instagram account, writing, “An unforgettable chapter of our glorious Indian history full of valour and sacrifice is now going to be part of my life 🇮🇳
a subject close to my heart... super proud and excited to embark on a new journey with the extremely talented @sandeipm and the powerhouse @karanjohar and @ektarkapoor.”
This movie announcement comes over two months after Kartik Aaryan was seen at Karan Johar’s Mumbai residence, sparking speculation about a potential collaboration between the duo. This project also comes after Kartik Aaryan’s exit from Dharma Productions’ ‘Dostana 2’.
Reportedly, Kartik Aaryan walked out of Dharma Productions’ much-anticipated ‘Dostana 2’, which was being directed by Collin D’Cunha, due to “creative differences” in 2021.
Days after Kartik Aaryan quit the project, Karan Johar’s Dharma Productions released a statement informing fans that they would be recasting ‘Dostana 2’.
The film, a sequel to Tarun Mansukhani’s 2008 movie ‘Dostana’, was initially announced with Kartik Aaryan, Janhvi Kapoor, and Laksh Lalwani in the lead roles.
Referring to controversy, Kartik Aaryan, during the promotions of his 2022 movie ‘Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2’, told The Indian Express, “What happens, at times, is people make baat ka batangad. There is nothing more to it. No one has so much time. Everybody just wants to work, do good work. Other than that, things are just rumours.”
Commenting on the matter, Karan Johar, in a recent chat with fans on Pinkvilla, said that ‘Dostana 2’ fell apart for “various reasons”.
“Kartik and I, we nearly made a film and then for various reasons it couldn’t happen but you never say never. I’m sure the future holds something very strong for both Kartik and I,” he said.
He further said, “We don’t know about Dostana but maybe we will make some film and that film will hopefully be defining for both of us.”
Meanwhile, Kartik Aaryan is currently busy shooting for Kabir Khan’s film ‘Chandu Champion’, a biopic on the life of Murlikant Petkar, India’s first Paralympic gold medalist, who was honoured with a Padma Shri in 2018.
Kartik Aaryan also has Anurag Basu’s ‘Aashiqui 3’ and ‘Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3’ in the pipeline.
