Amidst swirling rumors and speculation, Bollywood’s eminent filmmaker Karan Johar has stepped forward to address the recent media reports hinting at a casting shake-up in the beloved ‘Dulhania’ franchise, produced by his banner Dharma Productions. This reaction came in light of buzz suggesting actress Janhvi Kapoor might step into the shoes of Alia Bhatt to star opposite Varun Dhawan in the yet-to-be-announced third installment of the series.
A source of anticipation for the avid followers of the ‘Dulhania’ movies, which started with ‘Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania’ in 2014 followed by ‘Badrinath Ki Dulhania’ in 2017, is the on-screen chemistry of the central pair, Varun and Alia, fondly dubbed ‘Varia’ by their fans. The hypothetical reassignment of this pivotal role to Janhvi Kapoor has piqued interest and gathered momentum in the cinematic circuits and among audiences.
Disseminating an official response, Karan Johar urged restraint from drawing premature conclusions and stressed the importance of awaiting formal announcements. With a message on his social media platform, Johar pronounced, “Every morning I wake up to news that is not an official confirmation by Dharma Productions… would request members of the media to please not conjecture about the continuance of a franchise or the beginning of one! We will give details when the time and plans are formulated and fructified! We are humbled by the excitement shown to our future films but would love to have accuracy instead of speculation… Respectfully, Karan Johar.”
His explicit statement not only calls for factual reporting over guesswork but also implicitly reaffirms Dharma Productions’ commitment to keeping the audience informed on the developments of their eagerly-awaited projects. It seems clear that no stone will be left unturned in the process of delivering another crowd-pleasing film.
In retrospect, the franchise began its journey with Shashank Khaitan helming the maiden project, ‘Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania’, which garnered enormous affection for its modern-day romance etched with traditional nuances. Garnering widespread acclaim, it led to a second feature, ‘Badrinath Ki Dulhania’, which replicated its predecessor’s success and bolstered the clamor for more from the franchise.
Initial reports on the alleged casting change were brought forward by Peepingmoon.com, pointing towards a collaboration between Janhvi Kapoor and Varun Dhawan, who have previously shared screen space in Nitesh Tiwari’s ‘Bawaal’. The report also indicated a likely return of director Shashank Khaitan for the third film, posited to have an independent storyline unrelated to its forebears. The tentative production schedule hints at commencement within a few months, making it all the more crucial for Dharma Productions to clear the air regarding its casting.
Meanwhile, Varun Dhawan is currently immersed in the shooting of Atlee’s upcoming venture, a remake of the Tamil hit ‘Theri’, which includes Keerthy Suresh and Wamiqa Gabbi among its cast. Dhawan’s slate is tight, with ‘Dulhania 3’ expected to be on the cards post his current commitments, alongside a project directed by his father, David Dhawan.
Janhvi Kapoor, on the other hand, is poised to be busy with her pan-Indian film ‘Devara’, sharing the bill with Jr NTR and Saif Ali Khan. This is apart from her role alongside Rajkummar Rao in ‘Mr and Mrs Mahi’. With such high-stakes projects lined up, the query of her involvement in the ‘Dulhania’ sequel becomes even more riveting.
The statement from Karan Johar may settle the waves of conjecture for now. However, the definitive verdict on the casting for the ‘Dulhania’ sequel remains in the limbo of Bollywood’s future announcements. Fans and enthusiasts will have to be patient until the official word is out, reaffirming that in the world of showbiz, it’s the unexpected twists and turns that keep the industry abuzz with excitement.
