Meena Iyer (BOMBAY TIMES; February 10, 2014)

Ever since his separation from wife Sussanne in December 2013, Hrithik Roshan has wanted to take a long break from work, something a leading actress even hinted at.

And days before he joined the Shimla schedule of Bang Bang, nursing personal wounds as they were, word was going around that he intended to exit the action caper. However, the studio bankrolling the project was confident that he’d never do something of the sort. He shot a schedule of the film with Katrina Kaif before undergoing surgery last year for a blood clot in his brain. Obviously, the makers were sure he’d honour his commitment.

Then talk began late last year of his continuing with Karan Malhotra’s Shhuddhi opposite Kareena Kapoor Khan, which was scheduled to release on Diwali 2014. Since then, there have been rumours of Bebo being replaced, there seemed to be little to no doubt that Hrithik would definitely do the film, given his fantastic equation with both the Karans: Johar (his producer) and Malhotra (his Agneepath director). As it stands, Hrithik hasn’t even begun work on the film!

In December, came the split from Sussanne. Quite naturally, the actor’s personal world came crashing down and his priorities changed.

 Hrithik has since picked up the pieces of his life, rebuilding it brick by brick. He recently rented a sea-facing apartment in Juhu, to be able to spend maximum time in the coming years with and be a hands-on dad to his two sons — Hrehaan and Hridhaan. He wants to be there for all their important school functions, their birthdays and take them on personal vacations.

Naturally, it’d be impossible for the actor to juggle projects. He had already begun work on Bang Bang and there was no way out. He’s mentally preoccupied with life and times in general and has backed out of Shhuddhi, a reincarnation film he kept postponing due to unavoidable circumstances.

His official statement on Shhuddhi read like this: “Karan Malhotra and I have decided to unite in the most ambitious way post Shhuddhi. For now, I cannot allow a vision like Shhuddhi to stagnate any further. I had the finest experience as an actor can have working with Karan M in Agneepath and I’m sure both my dear Karans (Johar and Malhotra) are going to go beyond with this one! Shuddhi remains a part of me in spirit and I’m sure it will be a landmark in our cinema. I wish them all the best!’’

Meanwhile, buzz is that the makers of Shhuddhi are in talks with Ranveer Singh to fill Hrithik’s shoes. It has been variously suggested as well, that Deepika Padukone is being locked to replace Bebo. Of course, this is all hearsay. A few days ago, KJo mentioned that Shuddhi would see a change of cast because he perhaps could see the future. Not wishing to jump the gun, the responsible media waited with bated breath for Hrithik to make the final announcement. And now that the, ‘I’m not doing Shuddhi’ message has come from the horse’s mouth, guess everything is loud and clear... er... pure (shuddh).
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Vickey Lalwani (MUMBAI MIRROR; February 10, 2014)

In an interview to Mirror (February 5, 2014), Karan Johar admitted that his ambitious production, Shhuddhi, could be indefinitely delayed owning to Hrithik Roshan’s health problems and Kareena Kapoor may eventually not be a part of the cast. This was after both KJo and Kareena reacted to an article in this newspaper (December 17, 2013) that the latter may be replaced by Deepika Padukone. Through tweets and interviews the duo asserted that Shuddhi was on course with Bebo on board. And now we learn that Hrithik Roshan has opted out. In an official statement, the actor confirmed that he is no longer a part of Shhuddhi. “Karan Malhotra and I have decided to unite in the most ambitious way post Shhuddhi. For now, I cannot allow a vision like Shhuddhi to stagnate any further. I had the finest experience as an actor working with Karan Malhotra in Agneepath and I'm sure that my dear Karans, Karan Johar and Karan Malhotra, are going to go beyond with this one. Shuddhi remains a part of me in spirit and I am sure it will be a landmark film in our cinema. I wish them all the best,” he reiterated.

KJo and Karan Malhotra chose not to respond to the sudden development but according to a source close to the film, his accident on the sets of Bang Bang and the surgery that followed might have made Hrithik wary of taking up a film like Shhuddhi which would be a gruelling shoot and demands an optimum level of fitness.
While there has been a persistent buzz about Deepika Padukone replacing Kareena, something that has been denied by both the actress and the filmmaker, now tongues are wagging that KJo plans to approach Ranveer Singh to step into Hrithik’s shoes.
If both Ranveer and Deepika agree, Shhuddhi could be their third film together after Goliyon Ki Raasleela Ram-leela and the upcoming Finding Fanny Fernandes in which Ranveer plays Deepika’s husband.
Meanwhile, Hrithik-Kareena fans will have to wait for a while for them to complete a hat-trick, after Yaadein (2001) and Main Prem Ki Deewani Hoon (2003). As of now, Shuddhi is officially without a hero.
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Sonali Joshi Pitale (MID-DAY; February 10, 2014)
Rumours about Shhuddhi getting shelved and Deepika Padukone replacing Kareena Kapoor Khan in the film have been doing the rounds for a while now. First, there was talk about Kareena being unsure about doing this Karan Johar film opposite Hrithik Roshan due to date issues. The actress also said that she would take a call on her involvement upon being approached again by the makers.

Then came an announcement by Karan Johar who made it clear that he is looking for a new leading lady and does not want to keep Kareena waiting anymore.

The latest news in this saga is actor Hrithik Roshan’s press statement where he has declared his exit from the project. “Karan Malhotra and I have decided to unite in the most ambitious way post Shhuddhi. For now, I cannot allow a vision like Shhuddhi to stagnate any further. I had the finest experience an actor can have working with Karan in Agneepath and I’m sure both my dear Karans (Malhotra and Johar) are going to go beyond with this one! Shhuddhi remains a part of me in spirit and I am sure it will be a landmark in our cinema. I wish them all the best!” read his statement.

It may be pointed out here that post his surgery, Hrithik has been busy shooting for Bang Bang and has not allotted any dates for Karan Malhotra’s film. This in turn resulted in the film’s delay.

According to sources, Ranbir Kapoor and Deepika Padukone have now been approached to star in the film.