Punit out, Tarun in
Vickey Lalwani (MUMBAI MIRROR; September 30, 2014)

Karan Johar's co-production with Akshay Kumar and Ashwini Yardi, Chyawanprash, has a new director. Punit Malhotra, whose last film was the KJo production Gori Tere Pyaar Mein, has been asked to step down. Another KJo protege, Dostana director Tarun Mansukhani, will take over.

Chyawanprash is the remake of the Tamil comedy Naduvula Konjam Pakkatha Kaanom. Punit, the former flame of Sonam Kapoor who is currently seen in Esha Gupta's company, had started work on its Hindi retelling when he got the axe. A source close to the development told Mirror, "Punit was working on the subject, but after a point he couldn't take the story forward. This is when Tarun was asked to step in."

So who decided that Punit will no longer helm Chyawanprash? "Karan and Ashwini had a long chat, but primarily Karan took the call," revealed the source.

With this, Karan is giving a second chance to Tarun. Since the shelving of Dostana 2, speculation was rife that the director is out of KJo's camp and circle. But the latest development has put those rumours to rest.

Akshay Kumar is likely to head the cast of the film in question, which will go on floors once Tarun is ready with his take on the remake.