Kartik Aaryan is heading back into Imtiaz Ali’s world, but this reunion comes with a far moodier twist. Box Office Worldwide has exclusively learned that Kartik and Imtiaz are collaborating on a romantic psychological thriller, marking their first film together since Love Aaj Kal 2.
The new project is being mounted as an intense love story with a psychological spine, giving the pairing a very different creative space from their 2020 outing. The film goes on floors in the second half of 2027, positioning it as one of the more striking director-actor combinations now taking shape in Hindi cinema.
A Darker Reunion For Kartik And Imtiaz
The collaboration carries obvious curiosity because Kartik and Imtiaz last came together on Love Aaj Kal 2, which released in February 2020 and underperformed commercially. This time, the tonal shift is significant. Instead of revisiting a familiar urban romance zone, the new film is being designed around darker emotional conflict and psychological tension.
For Imtiaz, the move also comes at an interesting point in his career. His most recent release, Main Vaapas Aaunga, arrived in theatres on June 12, 2026, and emerged as a commercial success. Led by Diljit Dosanjh, Sharvari, Vedang Raina and Naseeruddin Shah, the film restored momentum around the filmmaker and sharpened interest in what he would choose next.
Kartik’s Current Shooting Lineup
That renewed momentum on Imtiaz’s side meets an equally busy stretch for Kartik, whose calendar is packed with active productions. Captain India, directed by Shimit Amin, begins filming in September 2026, while he recently completed major work on Kabir Khan’s sports drama. The actor also suffered a knee injury during an action sequence in August and underwent surgery before returning to work.
He has since resumed shooting for Anurag Basu’s untitled musical romance with Sreeleela, while a portion of Naagzilla still remains to be completed. With multiple films moving simultaneously, the Imtiaz Ali collaboration slots into a phase where Kartik is balancing large-scale commercial projects with filmmaker-driven titles.
Kartik Aaryan’s Recent Career Milestones
Kartik was last seen in Tu Meri Main Tera Main Tera Tu Meri in 2026, directed by Kabir Khan, where he played Paralympic gold medallist Murlikant Petkar. The film marked one of the most performance-driven turns of his career and stood apart from his mainstream comic-romantic image.
The same year also saw Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 strengthen his standing in the franchise space, reinforcing his box office draw with a brand that has worked strongly for him. His current slate now spans Captain India, Anurag Basu’s untitled musical romance with Sreeleela, Kabir Khan’s sports drama, and Naagzilla, placing him in a sustained run of high-visibility projects across genres.
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