Karan Johar’s Dharma Productions is returning to business with full force post the COVID-19 pandemic. The production company has scheduled as many as twelve films that are in various stages of production to be released in theatres over the next two years. While Ayan Mukherji’s long-in-the-making Brahmastra, Puri Jagannadh’s Liger, Raj Mehta’s Jug Jugg Jeeyo, and Shashank Khaitan’s Govinda Naam Mera and Bedhadak have been completed and are ready to be released this year, Karan’s directorial Rocky Aur Rani Ki Prem Kahani, Sharan Sharma’s Mr. & Mrs. Mahi, and Siddharth Malhotra’s Yodha are currently in production. Bandish Bandits director Anand Tiwari’s romantic-comedy starring Vicky Kaushal, Tripti Dimri and Ammy Virk, and Raj Mehta’s Selfiee with Akshay Kumar, Emraan Hashmi and Nushratt Bharuccha also went on floors recently in Mumbai. Now, we hear that the banner has added one more project to its lucrative lineup.
According to industry sources, Dharma Productions is next making a musical love story with Ishaan Khatter and Sharvari Wagh in the lead roles. The yet-untitled project is said to be a new-age romance and will see the two young actors madly in love with each other, dealing with various obstacles in their relationship. Vivek Soni who directed the Netflix romantic-comedy Meenakshi Sundareshwar for the banner last year will be helming this film from the script co-written by Aarsh Vora. Like the Abhimanyu Dassani and Sanya Malhotra starrer which delved into the journey of two newlyweds as they navigate the long-distance insecurities, and the ups and downs faced in marriage, the Ishaan-Sharvari film will also be a refreshing story of yet another relatable tale of love.
The film marks Ishaan’s reunion with Dharma Productions four years after his big-screen debut, Dhadak, while for Sharvari, it’s her first project outside Yash Raj Films that launched her last year with Bunty Aur Babli 2. The Vivek Soni film is already gaining attention in the trade circle for bringing a fresh, young pair on-screen. Ishaan and Sharvari will start shooting for this film in July after completing their current assignments. While Sharvari has Siddharth P Malhotra’s period drama with Aamir Khan’s son Junaid coming up next, Ishaan is currently shooting for Raja Krishna Menon’s big-budget war drama, Pippa, which sees him playing the role of a sauve and spirited tank commander, Brigadier Balram Singh Mehta, who fought on the eastern front during the Indo-Pakistan war of 1971.
For those unaware, Dharma Productions and Ishaan Khatter were earlier supposed to be collaborating on a psychological thriller last year. Bulbbul girl Tripti Dimri was paired opposite him in this Anubhuti Kashyap directorial and was supposed to get into production post the completion of Pippa. However, the film has now been put on the backburner for the time being, and the new Ishaan Khatter film is believed to be a compensation for that.
