The much-anticipated cinematic collaboration between two titans of the Indian film industry, Salman Khan and Karan Johar, has taken an unexpected detour. Salman Khan, who was set to star in Johar’s upcoming film ‘Bull’, has officially exited the project amidst a series of postponements. The decision ends a hiatus of nearly a quarter of a century since the duo last teamed up, potentially dousing the hopes of fans eager to see their joint venture.
‘Bull’, the project that promised to reintroduce Salman Khan under the banner of his long-time associate Karan Johar’s direction, had initially been penciled in to commence production in November 2023. However, a sequence of delays shattered the schedule – first pushing the start date to January, then to February, and eventually to May. The persistent setbacks prompted Salman to reconsider his commitments and prioritize an alternative project spearheaded by his friend Sajid Nadiadwala.
A source disclosed to Bollywood Hungama detailed the nature of these delays and the resulting fallout. Karan Johar and co-producer Vishnu Varadhan were reportedly unable to lock in definitive shooting dates, leading to growing frustration. Salman Khan, after much contemplation and a series of deferrals, felt compelled to withdraw from ‘Bull’. “After a lot of back and forth on the dates, Karan and Vishnu were still not able to commit to the exact timelines of the shoot. That’s when Salman conveyed his decision to back out from the project. Salman politely informed his decision to Karan,” the source told us anonymously.
Attributing the movie’s postponement to fate, Salman Khan was quoted by the source as saying, “Destiny doesn’t want this film to happen, so let’s move on.” While this marks a setback for Johar’s plans, the filmmaker remains open to other avenues for future collaborations with Salman Khan. Even though ‘Bull’ is momentarily shelved from Salman’s perspective, there may yet be hope—if Johar can establish a rigorous schedule and commitment in writing, Salman may consider returning to the project.
Amidst these developments, Salman Khan’s career continues to stride forward. The actor has made headlines earlier this month by announcing a partnership with the critically acclaimed filmmaker AR Murugadoss for a movie that is expected to grace the cinematic landscape on EID 2025. The venture will be under the production aegis of Sajid Nadiadwala and NGEMovies. With palpable enthusiasm, Salman shared the news on social media, saying, “Glad to join forces with the exceptionally talented, @ARMurugadoss and my friend, #SajidNadiadwala for a very exciting film!! This collaboration is special, and I look forward to this journey with your love and blessings. Releasing EID 2025.”
Salman Khan’s bustling roster further includes the eagerly awaited ‘Tiger vs. Pathaan’, directed by Siddharth Anand, and Sooraj Barjatya’s ‘Prem ki Shaadi’. With a slate full of diverse and high-profile projects, Salman Khan continues to be a dominant force in the Indian film industry, despite stepping away from ‘Bull’.
This professional hiccup with ‘Bull’ reflects the sometimes tumultuous nature of film production, where projects can evolve or dissolve due to a myriad of reasons. Nonetheless, the possibility of Salman Khan and Karan Johar merging their creative forces in the future still holds promise. As for the fans, they can only hope that destiny will eventually align to make their most-awaited reunion a reality.
