Esteemed Bollywood director Anurag Basu is gearing up for an exciting new venture set to commence this August. Teaming up with the talented Kartik Aaryan and Triptii Dimri, Basu is set to helm an untitled romantic musical that promises to be a treat for movie enthusiasts. As production gears up, early reports indicate that pre-production activities are well underway, and the project is set to feature a fascinating soundtrack to complement its narrative.
### Kartik Aaryan and Triptii Dimri Join Forces Again
Despite the recently shelved plans for “Aashiqui 3,” Kartik Aaryan remains at the forefront of the industry with his upcoming collaboration with Anurag Basu and producer Bhushan Kumar. Fans will also see Triptii Dimri joining forces with Kartik once again after their current project, “Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3”. Sources close to the production have revealed that the movie’s pre-production stage is active, with creators absorbed in piecing together an engaging soundtrack. Basu is reportedly close to wrapping up his latest film, “Metro… In Dino,” which boasts a star-studded cast including Sara Ali Khan, Aditya Roy Kapur, Ali Fazal, Fatima Sana Shaikh, Konkona Sensharma, Neena Gupta, and Pankaj Tripathi. Post this, Basu’s schedule will clear up, making way for the new romantic musical featuring Kartik and Triptii.
Kartik Aaryan is also riding high on a productive wave with “Chandu Champion” slated for release on June 14, and another significant project with Vishal Bhardwaj set to begin filming in December.
### Dhanush and Rai’s ‘Tere Ishk Mein’ Faces Delays
Renowned filmmaker Aanand L Rai and versatile actor Dhanush previously announced their collaborative project “Tere Ishk Mein” back in June last year. However, fans have noticed the noticeable lack of progress on this highly anticipated film. This delay can be attributed to Dhanush’s incredibly packed schedule. With several Tamil movies in the pipeline, including “Kubera” with Nagarjuna and Rashmika Mandanna, Mari Selvaraj’s “Karnan,” and a biopic on music maestro Ilaiyaraaja, Dhanush finds his calendar exceedingly busy.
As Dhanush prepares for the release of his landmark 50th film “Raayan,” he is keener than ever to fulfill his ongoing commitments before dedicating a substantial time block to “Tere Ishk Mein.” In light of Dhanush’s tight schedule, Rai is now planning to begin filming in October. The filmmaker’s vision includes shooting “Tere Ishk Mein” in a continuous schedule, targeting Varanasi and various other locations in Uttar Pradesh for authentic backdrops.
### Casting Dilemmas for ‘Jee Le Zaraa’
Farhan Akhtar’s ambitious project “Jee Le Zaraa” has been the subject of numerous discussions, with fans eagerly awaiting updates. As per recent reports, Akhtar remains committed to his star-studded, female-led movie featuring Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Katrina Kaif, and Alia Bhatt. However, production will only commence once Akhtar completes filming for “Don 3,” starring Ranveer Singh.
The protracted prep time for “Jee Le Zaraa” is partly due to the filmmaker’s determination to cast three A-List male leads whose stature matches those of Priyanka, Katrina, and Alia. However, casting these roles has posed significant challenges. The Bollywood industry’s historical apprehension toward male actors playing supporting roles in female-centric films makes this task even more complex.
. A stark reminder of these challenges is Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s “Padmaavati,” where Shah Rukh Khan declined a role that required playing second fiddle to the leading female protagonist. With casting still in the works, fans are eager to see who Akhtar will eventually bring onboard.
### Details of ‘Dhadak 2’ Surface
Earlier this week, producer Karan Johar officially announced “Dhadak 2,” casting Triptii Dimri and Siddhant Chaturvedi in the lead roles. Helmed by director Shazia Iqbal, the film centers around a love story framed by social barriers and is scheduled for a November 22 release this year. Similar to its predecessor, “Dhadak 2” is an adaptation. The original “Dhadak” (2018) launched Ishaan Khatter and Janhvi Kapoor and was a remake of the Marathi success “Sairat” (2016) by Nagraj Manjule. “Dhadak 2” follows suit as it is a remake of the 2018 Tamil production “Pariyerum Perumal” by Pa Ranjith, which explored themes of caste discrimination. The filmmakers made sure to credit the original film in their announcement.
### Ranveer Singh Exits Prasanth Varma’s ‘Rakshas’
In a recent surprising development, actor Ranveer Singh has opted out of filmmaker Prasanth Varma’s project, tentatively titled “Rakshas,” due to creative differences. Both parties, along with Mythri Movie Makers, released a joint statement indicating that it was not the right time for this project to come to fruition. Ranveer expressed his admiration for Prasanth’s unique talent and shared optimism about a future collaboration. Though the project has been paused, the anticipation for future ventures remains high among fans.
### Jackie Shroff Wins Legal Battle for Personality Rights
Veteran actor Jackie Shroff recently expressed immense gratitude towards the judiciary for passing a landmark order that protects his personality rights, covering his name, image, likeness, voice, and other distinctive attributes. This ruling follows in the footsteps of earlier judgments that upheld the rights of Bollywood icons Amitabh Bachchan and Anil Kapoor. Jackie was motivated by these precedents to assert his rights and praised the legal system for recognizing and protecting the distinctive persona of celebrities.
### Shilpa Shetty Kundra Wraps Up ‘KD—The Devil (Part 1)’
Shilpa Shetty Kundra has exciting news for her fans, as she wraps up filming for the Kannada movie “KD—The Devil (Part 1)”. Starring alongside Dhruva Sarja and Sanjay Dutt, Shilpa plays Satyavati in this action-packed drama directed by Prem, set in the true events of 1970s Bengaluru. Enthusiastically sharing a video on social media, Shilpa posted, “It’s a wrap for KD—The Devil (Part 1). Can’t wait for you to see Satyavati in action. All set to be yours this December.”
In an industry continuously filled with shifting schedules, rescheduled shoots, and high stakeholder expectations, these updates provide a fascinating glimpse into the lives and projects shaping Bollywood today. Whether it’s the anticipation for new musical romances or the behind-the-scenes complexities affecting production timelines, Bollywood certainly keeps its admirers on their toes.
