Even as filmmaker Kabir Khan has begun shooting his next that is led by Kartik Aaryan, the actor has reported to the set of Anurag Basu’s romantic musical. It looks like the actor will juggle the two projects for some time to ensure that Basu’s film, reportedly titled ‘Tu Meri Zindagi Hai’, races towards completion. What’s brought on the rush? From what we have heard, the makers’ desire to arrive in cinemas before ‘Ramayana: Part 1’.

The Ranbir Kapoor, Sai Pallavi, and Yash-led epic is expected to dominate screens upon its release this Diwali.

A source told mid-day, “Anurag and the makers want breathing space at the box office. They are aiming for a clean theatrical run without competition from a spectacle like ‘Ramayana’. October has one major release, ‘Drishyam 3’. So, producer Bhushan Kumar and Anurag are considering an October release.”

Aaryan and leading lady Sreeleela shot for a week in Kashmir, and will now move to Manali. The source added, “The idea is to wrap the bulk of the film before peak summer. Then Kartik will move to Kabir’s sports drama, while Anurag will lock his movie’s final cut.”

Is it Kartik Aaryan? Is it a shape-shifting snake? Well, it’s Aaryan filming his portions as a serpent in his next, Naagzilla: Naag Lok Ka Pehla Kaand. Sources have told mid-day that director Mrigdeep Singh Lamba, and the actor are currently shooting the creature comedy’s penultimate leg in Mumbai, with the duo planning to wrap up the project by February-end.

A source revealed, “Ravi Kishan too is part of the ongoing schedule. In February, the crew will move to Delhi for the last leg that will go on for a month. With that, the principal production will be complete, and March will be reserved for patch work.”

To ensure that Naagzilla meets its August 14 release date, we’ve heard that the VFX work is underway simultaneously. “Considering it’s a VFX-heavy film, the makers want it to be perfect so that it’s an immersive experience for the audience. Once the shoot is over, the team will take stock of the work left and the amount of time needed,” added the source.

The creature comedy marks Aaryan’s second collaboration with Dharma Productions after Tu Meri Main Tera Main Tera Tu Meri (2025).

‘Naagzilla’ stars South actor Sreeleela as the female lead. It marks her second outing with Kartik Aaryan, opposite whom she is making her Bollywood debut with Anurag Basu’s musical drama.

Finally, Kartik Aaryan’s romantic drama with filmmaker Anurag Basu has found its title. mid-day has learnt that the romantic musical has been christened Tu Meri Zindagi Hai, taking inspiration from the Kumar Sanu and Anuradha Paudwal song in Aashiqui (1990). Sources, however, reveal that the makers chose this as it distances the project enough from the Aashiqui franchise.

Many may remember that the film, also starring Sreeleela, was originally envisioned as the third instalment in the Aashiqui franchise. However, producers Mukesh Bhatt and Bhushan Kumar parted ways, and the latter decided to make the Aaryan-Basu collaboration as a standalone film.

“When choosing the title, it was a pre-emptive move by the makers to avoid making a direct reference to Aashiqui. The team wanted a name that evoked nostalgia, but didn’t risk legal or creative complications. Tu Meri Zindagi Hai felt like the perfect fit,” says a source.

The movie is being positioned as a big-ticket summer romance, with the team aiming for a May 1 release.

The source adds, “It’s a classic love story with Basu’s signature treatment of the genre. With the release more than six months away, it gives the team time to weave in some additional tracks. The latest schedule is underway in Mumbai and the film will be shot till 2025-end, with patch work spilling on to early 2026.”

Saiyaara has sparked many things — cheer at the box office, an outpouring of love from fans, and social media clips of heightened reactions from moviegoers.

Interestingly, it has also brought about intense scrutiny on Anurag Basu’s yet-untitled romantic musical with Kartik Aaryan, which is said to have similar plot points. Ever since Mohit Suri’s directorial venture became a monstrous hit, rumours are rife that Basu and his team are reworking their script.

Is there any truth to the buzz? A hard no, says Basu. Unfazed by the rumours, the filmmaker says, “Mohit and I are very close. I’m happy for his film’s success. The only similarity in our films is that the male lead is a rockstar, and the story is about his journey.”

Starring Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda, Saiyaara depicts a musician’s heartbreak as the love of his life battles early onset of Alzheimer’s disease and how it changes their lives. Sources indicate that the upcoming Aaryan and Sreeleela-starrer too initially explored similar themes.

A source reveals, “After Saiyaara’s success, Kartik, Anurag, and producer Bhushan Kumar felt they needed to up the scale and emotional stakes of their story. So, parts of it are being rewritten; they will do away with the segment of the female lead battling a mental illness. Post the rewrite, the unit will have a 40-day re-shoot of portions that were filmed earlier this year.”

Mention this to Basu, and he says neither a rewrite nor a re-shoot is on the cards. The filmmaker adds that he was aware of Saiyaara’s story beforehand — the revelation echoes what Suri told mid-day earlier this month (‘I went and narrated the film to Anurag’, July 19).

Basu elaborates, “In my film, the girl doesn’t have dementia or any [other condition]. We are not rewriting or re-shooting. I knew beforehand that the girl has Alzheimer’s [disease] in Saiyaara. So, why would I write the same [plot point] in mine?”

The director, however, admits that his love story — initially planned as a Diwali offering — has been pushed to 2026. He attributes it to his busy calendar and continuity issues. “We have shot about 40 per cent of the film. In August and September, we plan to shoot another schedule in which Kartik will have a clean-shaven look. He is currently shooting for Tu Meri Main Tera Main Tera Tu Meri, in which he has a specific look. The continuity is the problem. He needs to complete that film; after that, by the month-end, we will lock the next schedule.”

In his interviews, Mohit Suri has revealed that the core idea of Saiyaara was originally pitched for Aashiqui 3. However, things didn’t work out, and Suri went on to develop it as Saiyaara. 

Meanwhile, Bhushan Kumar and Mukesh Bhatt roped in Kartik Aaryan and Anurag Basu to make Aashiqui 3. But when the two producers parted ways on the project, there was a legal dispute over the use of ‘Aashiqui’ in the film’s title. The Delhi High Court ruled in Bhatt’s favour, preventing Kumar from naming the Aaryan-starrer Aashiqui 3.

Aditya Roy Kapur’s recent release Metro…In Dino has done well at the theatres. The actor, who has experienced the big screen as well as the web, enjoys both the mediums.

“A film is a commercial enterprise and when it opens in a theatre, you want it to do well. However, at the end of the day, you have to let go, irrespective of how the film does. There’s an added zing to a theatrical release that is not apparent when something releases on OTT. But on OTT, you’re a little more relaxed, which is fun too,” says Aditya, who has been part of successful OTT outings such as Ludo (2020) and The Night Manager (2023).

He adds that having a film hit the big screen “is an amazing feeling”. Talking about his recent outing, directed by Anurag Basu, the 39-year-old says,

“I was so excited to be back with Dada (Anurag). We had such a great time on Ludo, but it felt like it was not complete. It felt like there was more to explore, so when he called about this film and told me the ideas that he had for this track, and for this character, it was very exciting,” he says.

The actor was seen alongside actor Sara Ali Khan as his love interest in Metro… In Dino. Earlier, his romantic pairings with actor Shraddha Kapoor in Aashiqui 2 (2013) and actor Disha Patani in Malang (2020) were also appreciated for their chemistry.

Ask how he manages to strike that on screen, Aditya says, “I don’t think it’s something two people can sit and plan, saying we will now conjure it up. It’s either there or not there. And that’s for the audience to judge. Good writing helps though and so does a good director, as they put you in situations that bring the best out of the two actors.”

Up until recently, actor Sara Ali Khan was as much a social media darling as she was an on-screen performer. But fans have noticed a shift — the actor has been keeping a low profile online.

Ask her why and the 29-year-old says, “I used to enjoy Instagram maybe a little more than I do now. That’s not to say that I don’t enjoy it at all.. But now there are days when I’ll feel like doing something fun and I’ll do it, but I don’t necessarily feel that way as often as maybe I did.”

Sara hints that the relentless scrutiny of everything but acting made her rethink the virtual world. And a powerful reminder came from veteran actor Anupam Kher.

“He was speaking about how actually our existence is just between action and cut,” the actor recalls, adding, “Sometimes, I also forget that. I’d be sitting in traffic thinking, ‘I didn’t make a Reel to trend.’ But that’s not our work. In our jobs today, it’s very easy to confuse what the real work is and what the supplementary work is.”

Currently enjoying the high of Metro...In Dino performing well, Sara credits director Anurag Basu and co-actor Aditya Roy Kapur. “Basu da really knows how to bring out the best in everyone... And I’ve said this before, Adi is a very easy going person. He allows the other person to feel relaxed. He’s not judgy, so that makes it very easy to work with him,” she signs off.

Even a filmmaker who has delivered many hits over his 20-year career can be anxious and nervous ahead of a film’s release. Director Mohit Suri, whose Saiyaara hit the screens on July 18, says he feels an enhanced sense of responsibility with the film.

He reasons, “My actors are new. This is my first collaboration with a company [Yash Raj Films] that is known for their love stories. I was always the youngest one on the set when I started out. Now I am a grown-up, shouldering people who bank on me.”

Suri is telling a love story of a young musician and a lyricist with the film that launches Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda in Bollywood. He remembers producer Aditya Chopra telling him early on that the love story needed new faces. How did he end up zeroing in on Panday and Padda?

“Ahaan was doing something with YRF before, which didn’t work out. I met him a couple of times, and his audition wasn’t working for me. I was going to meet him and say no. So, we went for a last dinner. That turned out to be a mad, raging night, where he was no longer trying to impress me. That’s when I saw the real him and saw the character come alive. I told him to stop calling me sir; he got into a bro-zone with me. When he stopped pretending to be somebody, I found the magic in him. For the girl, I went through a lot of people and a lot of rejection. Some really good options came to me, but I wanted a girl who comes from a Punjabi background – a city girl with middle-class values. It was after four months that I found Aneet.”

In March, mid-day reported about the similarities between the plots of Saiyaara and filmmaker Anurag Basu’s yet-untitled next with Kartik Aaryan (Many renditions of a rockstar’s romance, March 6). Both films look at how heartbreak influences a musician’s journey.

Ask Suri about the similarities, and he says, “I’m very close to Dada [Basu]. I have worked as an assistant [to him]. So, I met him when he called. He has the right to do that. I went and narrated this film to him. He had started his film and I had finished mine by then. He didn’t seem worried in the least. There was a Rockstar [2011] being made when I was making Aashiqui 2 [2013]. This is not Interstellar [2014] that we would worry about."

Suri had his own challenges in the film, one to live up to his own expectations and secondly to save himself from self- censoring. He says, "You know, there's a really interesting scene in the film where he gets violent with his own father. And I remember while coming in one day I saw Yash ji's statue outside. I called Mahesh Bhatt. I said, 'There's a scene that I'm shooting in the film. And this is a really good production house and I might be pushing (the envelope) too much. Maybe my morality is different, but the father and son in my film are getting violent with each other in the middle of the road'. It's emotional for me because I didn't realize my DP profile was a picture of my hand with my son's hand. And he said that, 'I know what your relation with your father was, and seeing your DP picture I know where it comes from. No matter what you do better, I know you wont get this scene morally wrong. Don't question yourself. I think the morality of the filmmaker cannot be to be agreeable. The audience will always get the honesty of a maker'."

Commerce is a big aspect of a Mohit Suri movie. "You need to make money for people to keep making films. I've been on the film set since I was 17 and I'm 44 today. More than 50% of my life, I've spent on set. I've been directing for 20 years. I have to keep giving that box office so called successes so that I can keep making films for the rest of my life."

We ask him what he thinks is broken in the system that films are not making money? "I think that there needs to be a certain discipline in how much we make a movie. The budgets of it. The problem is creative people are thinking about economics. And economics people are thinking creatively. I find at get-togethers, people talk either about fashion or business. No one's talking about a story. When we were young and our seniors got into parties, they spoke about art. I think now they talk about business and tie ups and profitability. So I think we need to bring the art back. Money will follow."

Had things gone as planned, Kartik Aaryan would have a Diwali date with the audience, courtesy Anurag Basu’s yet-untitled next. Now, with the romantic drama, also starring Sreeleela, unable to meet the festival deadline, it looks like Aaryan is trying not to skip his date with his fans. mid-day has learnt that he is working towards advancing the release of Tu Meri Main Tera, Main Tera Tu Meri to October 2025.

The actor’s eagerness to arrive with a film on Diwali is not surprising. A source reveals, “Kartik’s Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 [2024] hit the screens last Diwali, and was a superhit. He wants to keep the momentum going, and mark his stamp on a festival release. Tu Meri Main Tera… is expected to be wrapped up by July-end. So, the actor is keen that the rom-com hit the marquee this Diwali.”

Directed by Sameer Vidwans, it stars Ananya Panday opposite Aaryan and was announced as a Valentine’s Day 2026 offering. But now, the team at Dharma Productions is discussing the possibility of making it a late 2025 outing.

As for Aaryan, soon after wrapping up the rom-com, the actor will return to the set of Basu’s musical. “A considerable portion of the film has yet to be completed. There is no chance of it adhering to its Diwali release. The makers will probably eye an early 2026 window,” says an insider.

A biopic of Kishore Kumar has long fascinated filmmaker Anurag Basu, and for good reason. The late singer and actor greatly influenced Hindi cinema’s music landscape. While Ranbir Kapoor was initially attached to lead the biopic, recent rumours suggested that Aamir Khan would step into the shoes of the maverick artiste. So, as we caught up with the filmmaker, we asked if he was indeed set to direct Khan on his passion project.

“No comment,” he chuckled, before adding, “Until everything is finalized and the contract is signed, I don’t think I should speak on it.”

Basu’s long-cherished project has gone through an eventful journey, with the makers earlier struggling to get the approval of Kumar’s kin for the story.

“This project went through a lot of ups and downs. So, I’m keeping my fingers crossed that it happens this time and I go on set with the story, which I’ve been trying to tell for the last decade. So, I won’t jinx it by speaking about it.”

Rumours have also surfaced about his reunion with Kapoor, who led his past offerings Jagga Jasoos (2017) and Barfi (2012). The director is hopeful of a third outing, as he said, “I hope it happens soon. Woh aadat bohot kharab kar deta hai [he spoils you a lot]. We keep talking about working together again.”

When not talking films, the duo talks about Kapoor’s lifestyle brand. “He has gifted me a pair of shoes again. Pehli baar galat size bheje thhe,” Basu laughed.

Aditya Roy Kapur isn’t a fan of promotions. But he is having a ball promoting Metro... In Dino. The actor is enjoying getting to know his co-stars as they join forces for Anurag Basu’s romantic drama.

Tell him that the movie is a much-needed antidote to action films that are dominating the box office, and Kapur says, “A lot of people have said that a film like this is releasing after long. When it comes to choosing projects, we tend to focus on what’s in front of us. You ask yourself: does this story connect with me? Once a certain kind of film does well, it triggers a chain reaction. That’s how the business works. Hopefully, people will connect with this film, and maybe we’ll see more of these stories being made again.”

Metro… In Dino marks the actor’s second collaboration with Basu after Ludo (2020). Starring Kapur, Sara Ali Khan, Konkona Sen Sharma, Pankaj Tripathi, Neena Gupta, Anupam Kher, Fatima Sana Shaikh, and Ali Fazal, the movie explores various shades of love. How easy is it to play the quintessential romantic hero? “People often underestimate how tricky it can be,” says Kapur.

“You need to lean into your own charm, make it feel current, and still keep it honest. It comes down to the writing. I don’t think Anurag sir would ever do something that feels uninspired. By now, Dada and I have developed a shorthand. There’s an instinctual understanding of what he wants. He wants his actors to be experimental; he doesn’t judge you if something doesn’t land. Also, he thrives on improvisation. He can rewrite a dialogue, change a scene, or shift the energy. Being on his set has taught me that sometimes, the takes where you feel unsure are the best ones.”

Usually stars are wary of ensemble movies. Filmmaker Rohit Shetty has often said that today’s actors are too egoistic to share screen space. But Kapur has no such qualms.

“It’s about not denying myself a good opportunity. When Dada spoke about this new story, it sounded exciting. I wasn’t going to pass it up for some arbitrary reason like screen space or strategy. I started my career doing supporting roles. In my first film [London Dreams, 2009], I played a small part. I’m happy with my path.”

The way Fatima Sana Shaikh was offered Metro…In Dino could be a scene straight out of one of Anurag Basu’s slice-of-life films — imagine the lead character getting an all-important phone call, but being unable to hear anything due to poor network.

“When Dada [Basu] called to talk about Metro, he started describing the story and my character. Because of poor network, I could hardly hear him. I could only catch random words like ‘this girl, that boy’. So, I kept saying, ‘Hmmm,’” laughs Shaikh, as she recalls the episode. At the end of the patchy call, she agreed to do the film. She explains, “I didn’t need a narration. With him, you surrender.”

This faith comes from having worked with Basu on Ludo (2020). That was enough for Shaikh to know that the filmmaker doesn’t waste his actors. That’s one of the reasons he could put together the impressive ensemble cast — Neena Gupta, Anupam Kher, Konkona Sen Sharma, Pankaj Tripathi, Ali Fazal, Aditya Roy Kapur, and Sara Ali Khan — for Metro...In Dino.

“Big or small, all his characters have depth. He never wastes an actor. Also, he won’t mislead you, saying, ‘Itna bada character hai.’ He is honest,” says Shaikh.

What adds to the joy is the director’s unusual way of shooting that relies on actors’ spontaneity. “We went to the set and discovered the story. It’s not that he doesn’t have a script. He chooses not to share it because he doesn’t want his actors to read it so many times that their performance gets set.”

Shaikh was last seen in Sam Bahadur (2023). In the last two years, the actor has not only shot for multiple projects, but also become more “open”.

“Earlier, I wasn’t very confident as an actor. So, I was apprehensive to take up women-led stories. I feared that I may not be able to shoulder them. Now, my approach has changed. I think about how much fun it would be to play a character that is out of my depth.”

She has also become clearer about what to reject. “If the character is vanilla, no matter how good the film is, I say no. I’ve turned down big films because I felt the character was one-note. What’s the point of doing projects if I’m not growing as an actor?”

There is a reason everyone awaits an Anurag Basu film. The world he builds is a lot like the one we live in — it has lost souls seeking answers, flawed people trying to be better, and almost everyone wishing to find love amid their hustle in the city. All this, with a dollop of hope. And honesty, points out Aditya Roy Kapur.

“There is honesty in how Dada [Basu] writes his relationships,” says the actor, who stars in the filmmaker’s upcoming release, Metro…In Dino.

Yesterday, the makers released the trailer of Metro…In Dino, a sequel of sorts to the much loved Life in a… Metro (2007). With the film, Kapur — who featured in Basu’s Ludo (2020) — is happy to dive back into the director’s world of tangled love stories and messy human connections. This time, he is joined by co-stars Sara Ali Khan, Neena Gupta, Anupam Kher, Pankaj Tripathi, Konkona Sensharma, Fatima Sana Shaikh, and Ali Fazal.

“You have to strip yourself bare to feel all the love, loss, and longing he has poured into the story. With this project, there is also a musical element, where we had to figure out how to go from talking to singing, and then back to talking. Navigating that was challenging, but also rewarding,” he smiles.

Kapur’s 16-year career has enabled him to explore romantic dramas, action films, and thrillers. It’s the slice-of-life films that he has a soft spot for, he admits. “It’s a gift to play someone larger than life, but those small moments and awkward silences are equally important. That helps an actor grow,” he says, adding that the idea is to balance intense roles with light-hearted ones.

“My character here is idiosyncratic. That gave me the opportunity to have fun with it. My last outing was The Night Manager [2023]. It’s nice to go from that intense role to something lighter. I enjoyed the first Metro. So, while doing this, I’d look forward to going to work every day. My journey as an actor is about trying things that I haven’t done before. It’s exciting to have that slight fear when you’re going into the unknown. You are the most alive and can possibly do your best work when you’re at the edge of fear. It’s nice to be in a space where you’re not sure because that means you’re pushing yourself into a place you haven’t been in.”

What are his hopes from the film? “I hope people see themselves in it,” he promptly replies.

He won over young fans with his perfectly delivered monologues in romcoms like Pyaar Ka Punchnama and Pati Patni Aur Woh, and then, Kartik Aaryan went on to become the charming face of tongue-twisting movie titles like Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety and the upcoming Tu Meri Main Tera, Main Tera Tu Meri (try saying that fast on a loop). The actor’s take on love, however, is anything but complicated. When it comes to matters of the heart, Rooh Baba is refreshingly real. Bombay Times exclusively caught up with one of B-Town’s most eligible bachelors on Valentine’s Day and quizzed him on love, modern dating, relationships, situationships and everything in between. Read on…

I think Valentine’s Day is a sweet celebration of love, but honestly, if you truly love someone, every day should feel special. As for soulmates – yes, I’d like to believe there’s someone out there who just gets you. But I also think love is about effort and growing together, rather than waiting for the perfect person to show up. Relationships aren’t fairy tales, but they do have their own magic when two people make an effort.

When I’m single, my life is all about the hustle – shoots, promotions, scripts, gym and late-night binge-watching. But If I were in a relationship, my world would revolve around that one person. I’m always busy making that person feel special every moment. I become that person who texts khana khaya kya? a hundred times a day, plans surprise dates, and cancels night-outs with friends just to spend time with her. I still don’t know how to balance things out (laughs).

Every film I’ve done has shown different shades of love – some fun, some intense, some heartbreaking. And just like my characters, I’ve evolved too. I think romance has always been my strong suit, and I’m grateful filmmakers see that, too. And honestly, my approach to relationships in real life helps me bring out the best on-screen, too. It’s all connected, and it always reflects. Audiences and fans only connect with us as performers when we are able to bring that authenticity to our characters. You will see an intense, never-seen-before side of me in Anurag Basu da’s musical love story and then you will see me playing a fun, yet, character with gravitas in Sameer Vidwans’ Tu Mera Main Teri Main Tera Tu Meri. 2025 is shaping up to be a romantic year for me.

Bollywood definitely shaped my idea of romance. I grew up watching Shah Rukh Khan spreading his arms and making it look so effortless. Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge, Mohabbatein, Dil To Pagal Hai, Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, all those films made love feel larger than life and magical. And yes, I’m a huge SRK and Yash Chopra fan. Who isn’t?

I’m a diehard romantic, on-screen and off-screen. I don’t rush the process. I let myself feel everything, but I also make sure to channel my emotions into something productive, whether it’s work, fitness, or spending time with friends and family. I think the key is to surround yourself with love in different forms—whether it’s from your close ones, your passion, or even your pet. And some of the best love stories are born after a heartbreak.

For me, love is about effort, consistency, honesty and showing up for the person you care about. It’s not just about grand gestures but also the little ones. My love language is a mix of quality time and acts of service. I believe in being present, and in making life easier and happier for the person I love.

I’m a diehard romantic. Love is pure, in-depth emotion, and I feel there is no place for practicality when you are in love. I understand that times are changing rapidly, and our dating culture is also evolving with it. People have different ways of expressing love, and that’s okay. Personally, I believe in something more meaningful and long-term rather than just fleeting connections.

For me, a real green flag is feeling secure, not just in yourself but also in your partner’s success and achievements. No one’s perfect, but what really matters is appreciating and supporting each other. At the end of the day, if you truly love someone, you should be their biggest cheerleader.

Everything I am today because of them. Watching my mother’s resilience and my sister’s strength has taught me what true love and respect mean. They’ve always been my biggest cheerleaders, and that has influenced the way I treat people, especially women. I believe love should be built on mutual respect, support, and understanding – just like the bond I share with them.

Filmmaker Anurag Basu’s battle with blood cancer started in 2004, when he was told he only has a few weeks left to live.

On World Cancer Day today, the 54-year-old shares how he gave himself ‘targets’ to achieve on his way to recovery: “It started with me wanting to see my unborn daughter’s face when my wife Tani was pregnant. Then it was to walk and touch a stool in the room.”

Anurag emphasizes that awareness is of utmost importance. “Even today, when someone in the family is diagnosed with it, we try to hide it, and not tell others. Jab tak aware nahin karenge, tab tak early diagnosis bhi nahin hoga,” he says, adding, “Life doesn’t get over if you are diagnosed with cancer. You should treat it like common cold... Isiliye main apne cancer ke baare mein khulke bolta hoon.”

Anurag Basu’s next starring Kartik Aaryan found itself in the middle of drama recently as rumours suggested that Triptii Dimri was removed from the film. There were reports that this was because ‘her image’ didn’t suit the role, after a string of bold roles.

Anurag clarifies to us, “Image was not the reason. I’m the last person to judge an actor on the basis of characters they play onscreen. Aashiqui was not even the story anymore... I don’t know the source of these stories.”

He cited dates as being the issue. “Triptii is shooting for a film with Vishal Bhardwaj, and my film goes on floors this month, too. Triptii is still my best friend,” he says, adding, “I don’t know what the film is called right now, the shoot starts this month. We haven’t finalized the female lead, it’ll be announced in a week.”

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Earlier this week, mid day reported that Triptii Dimri was out of the Kartik Aaryan-starrer Aashiqui 3, which was supposed to go on floors this year with Anurag Basu helming the project. The news came after Dimri had done look tests for the film and even performed for the mahurat shot.

Since then, there have been rumours that the actor was dropped from the film as the makers felt she had become “too exposed” to be cast in the romantic film, which they apparently believed “demanded purity in demeanour from the female lead”. mid day reached out to Basu, who is set to begin another romantic film with Aaryan soon, for a comment on the rumour. The director set the record straight. He said, “That’s not true,” and added, “Triptii knows it too.”

The third instalment of Aashiqui, which is now indefinitely postponed, was produced by Bhushan Kumar. The T-Series head honcho is now producing the yet-untitled collaboration between Aaryan and Basu. The hunt for its female lead is underway, and it’s set to go on floors later this month or early February. 

A source noted, “The rumours around Dimri’s departure also suggested that the makers saw no buzz around the actor post her biggest success, Animal [2023].”

The makers apparently took into account the underwhelming box office result of her “so called” solo releases. Ironically, Dimri’s most recent success was T-Series’ Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3, where she was the lead opposite Aaryan. Sources close to the development inform that Dimri has moved on to Vishal Bhardwaj’s Arjun Ustara, which was also supposed to star Aaryan. However, it is now being headlined by Shahid Kapoor.

“The buzz around Triptii has been at an all time high since Animal’s success. That’s also what made her the sought after choice for Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3. After the romantic comedy Bad Newz [2024] and Vicky Vidya Ka Woh Wala Video [2024], she was kicked about headlining an intense love story by Anurag. With her debut film, Laila Majnu [2018], becoming a success upon its re-release last year, there has been a demand to see her in a romance,” shared a source.

Dimri was looking forward to the full fledged schedule of Aashiqui 3, before gearing up for the release of her Dharma Productions’ film, Dhadak 2, directed by Shazia Iqbal.

Success teaches you many things. It looks like Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3’s recent success has taught Kartik Aaryan that leading a franchise is a smart tactic to connect with the audience, a lesson he is applying to his next. mid-day has learnt that the actor is keen that his romantic drama—which was initially planned as Aashiqui 3, but then reimagined as a stand-alone film—be restored under the Aashiqui franchise.

A lot has happened on the Aashiqui front since the third instalment was announced in 2022. At the time, Anurag Basu was to direct the Aaryan-led love story, with Bhushan Kumar and Mukesh Bhatt producing it. However, a tussle began between the producers over the franchise’s rights. Finally, this March, the T-Series head honcho announced that he alone was backing the Aaryan-Basu project, which was rechristened Tu Aashiqui Hai and was no longer a part of the Aashiqui franchise.

Now, Aaryan has apparently introduced a plot twist. A source reveals, “The success of Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 and 3 has confirmed Kartik’s belief in the power of franchises. He has suggested to Bhushan that he initiate talks with Mukesh Bhatt to acquire the title. Kartik is certain that building the love story under the Aashiqui franchise will give it a push.”

In 1990, Aashiqui made Rahul Roy and Anu Aggarwal overnight stars. Aditya Roy Kapur and Shraddha Kapoor recreated the magic with Aashiqui 2 (2013), produced by T-Series and Bhatt’s Vishesh Films. Now, with Aaryan eager to lead the franchise, the source says that Kumar is figuring out the right way to take the matter forward with Bhatt. It’s one of the reasons the shoot of the movie, also starring Triptii Dimri, has been pushed to next year.

“Anurag is anyway busy with the re-shoot of Metro… In Dino. With this new development, the project will only roll sometime next year. Kartik wants clarity on all aspects before he faces the camera,” says the insider.

Franchises have been money-spinners this year, be it Stree 2, Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 or Singham Again. Almost every star has a franchise film in their line-up—from Shah Rukh Khan having Pathaan 2 to Ranbir Kapoor greenlighting Animal Park. It only makes sense for Aaryan to join the bandwagon. 

Another source notes, “He will soon begin shooting Pati Patni Aur Woh 2. He is also keen to have a sequel to Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety [2018].”

Anurag Basu and Kartik Aaryan were scheduled to kick off their yet-untitled next, a romantic musical, this month. But it looks like the duo will have to wait a while before giving shape to their maiden collaboration. Reason—sources say that Basu wants to fine-tune his ensemble drama, Metro...In Dino.

For the spiritual sequel to his 2007 hit Life In A Metro, the director has brought together an eclectic cast comprising Aditya Roy Kapur, Sara Ali Khan, Konkona Sen Sharma, Pankaj Tripathi, Ali Fazal, Fatima Sana Shaikh, Anupam Kher and Neena Gupta. The relationship drama was wrapped up in September, in time for its November 29 release. However, we’ve heard that the director recently expressed his concerns over the final cut and decided to re-shoot certain key portions.

A source close to the production revealed, “Anurag wasn’t completely satisfied with how some scenes shaped up, especially given the emotional complexity that is crucial to each of the intertwined stories of the film. He felt that re-shooting some scenes would help the narrative and better capture the story’s essence.”

Basu’s decision to re-shoot parts of Metro...In Dino over the next few weeks has pushed his project with Aaryan by two months. So, the actor is doing the next best thing—he plans to use this window to shoot Pati Patni Aur Woh 2, helmed by Mudassar Aziz. “He will start Pati Patni Aur Woh 2 by early December,” added the insider. mid-day texted Basu, who didn’t respond till press time.

There has been much interest around Aashiqui 3 ever since filmmaker Anurag Basu and actor Kartik Aaryan announced it last year. Now, word on the street is that for the franchise’s third instalment, the makers are planning to revisit Baseraa (1981), which starred Shashi Kapoor, Rakhee and Rekha.

Baseraa, based on a Marathi novel by Leela Phansalkar and written by Gulzar, told the story of a middle-aged married couple whose lives turn upside down when the husband’s first wife returns home from a mental institution after over a decade.

A source close to the development reveals, “The third instalment has been tentatively titled Tu Aashiqui Hai. The team was looking for a narrative with a powerful love story at the core. In Baseraa, they appear to have found a match. The scripting has begun, and the material will be adapted to the current times.”

The casting for primary characters is underway. The source adds, “Tripti Dimrii is one of the female leads opposite Kartik. The makers are yet to lock the third actor.” The director apparently plans to roll the film in the second half of 2024.

Right at the time of going to press, Basu, on  his  part,  for now, however denied the buzz.

Sequels have often proved to be a success formula in Bollywood. Recently, when Konkona Sensharma and Ranbir Kapoor came together for a commercial, netizens said that they were keen to see them on the big screen after their much-loved movie Wake Up Sid back in 2009. Reacting to it, Konkona says, “I am so touched. So many people still have so much love for the movie and the character.” The actress, however, isn’t certain about a second instalment of the movie, which many were hoping for.

“I am a little doubtful about sequels of much-loved films. You can never live up to that hype, so it is best left to the imagination. Also, it is a lot of pressure to live up to something people have already loved,” she says.

Konkona says that shooting with Ranbir recently, however briefly, was like “a little nostalgia trip”. She continues, “We shot for just two days, but it was lovely to reunite with Ranbir and others. We were remembering that we were all babies when we shot the movie around 15 years ago. At that time, Ranbir had just done Saawariya. We were all kids starting out, and it was lovely that after a long time, we could all be together. We’ve all come a long way and grown so much… we have our own families now. Ranbir has a child, I do, too.”

Interestingly, while the actress is mostly not excited about the idea of sequels of some films, she will next be seen in Metro...In Dino, a sequel to Anurag Basu’s Life In A… Metro (2007). Explaining why she decided to be a part of the project, she says, “It is like a spiritual sequel because it’s not the same character. But it is so nice to work with dada (Anurag Basu) again. He is a wonderful human being and a great director,” she signs off.