At a time when Hindi cinema is still searching for a new-age romantic voice that can work both emotionally and commercially, Dharma Productions has made its choice clear. The studio is doubling down on Vivek Soni, the filmmaker behind Meenakshi Sundareshwar and Aap Jaisa Koi, and backing him for a theatrical romance with Chand Mera Dil.
That vote of confidence stands out because Dharma is not simply repeating a successful collaboration, it is scaling it up. After working with Soni on relationship-driven OTT titles, the banner has now placed him at the helm of a big screen film starring Ananya Panday and Lakshya, a pairing that instantly gives the project youthful pull in the current Hindi film landscape.
For Soni, it marks a major career step. For Dharma, it suggests a sustained investment in a director whose storytelling has consistently returned to love, conflict and modern connection, all elements that remain central to the banner’s identity when it comes to romance.
Dharma Moves Vivek Soni’s Romance Vision To The Big Screen
Chand Mera Dil is directed by Vivek Soni and produced by Dharma Productions, with Karan Johar, Apoorva Mehta and Adar Poonawalla attached as producers. The film brings Ananya Panday and Lakshya together for the first time, making the fresh casting one of its most immediate selling points.
The film is scheduled for a theatrical release in 2026, which gives Soni his first confirmed cinema release as director. In practical terms, it also places him in a more visible bracket within Dharma’s creative ecosystem, especially as the banner continues to shape its next wave of romance-led films for younger audiences.
That is what makes Chand Mera Dil more than just another announcement on a crowded slate. It feels like a deliberate placement, with Dharma betting that Soni’s intimacy-first approach can translate to a wider theatrical audience.
Why Chand Mera Dil Marks A Bigger Bet For Dharma
Chand Mera Dil is positioned as a contemporary Hindi romantic drama, led by two actors who fit squarely into the younger audience space the genre increasingly depends on. With Ananya Panday and Lakshya headlining, the film arrives with a fresh on-screen pairing rather than a familiar formula, a choice that aligns with Dharma’s longstanding instinct for packaging romance around new chemistry.
Plot details are still under wraps, but the title, casting and genre positioning point to an emotional relationship story mounted for a theatrical audience. That focus also keeps the film firmly in line with the kind of romance Dharma has historically championed, while giving Soni room to bring a more current emotional texture to the format.
Seen in that context, Soni’s recent work becomes the clearest lens through which to read this move.
Vivek Soni’s Recent And Upcoming Work
Vivek Soni made his feature directorial debut with Meenakshi Sundareshwar, which premiered on Netflix in 2021 and starred Sanya Malhotra and Abhimanyu Dassani. The film established his comfort with romance rooted in everyday friction, family dynamics and culturally specific humour.
He next directed Aap Jaisa Koi, starring R. Madhavan and Fatima Sana Shaikh, which is confirmed to premiere on Netflix on July 11, 2025. Together, those films show a filmmaker consistently drawn to intimate relationship storytelling. With Chand Mera Dil, that sensibility is now being tested on a larger theatrical stage, and Dharma’s continued backing makes the progression look both strategic and intentional.
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