Actor confirms Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety sequel & that Pyaar Ka Punchnama will go into Part 3
Himesh Mankad (MUMBAI MIRROR; September 3, 2020)

Ever since the trio of Pyaar Ka Punchnama 2—Kartik Aaryan, Nushrratt Bharuccha and Sunny Singh—reunited for another romcom, Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety, speculations have been rife about taking both the franchises forward. Sunny confirms this, saying, “Luv sir (Luv Ranjan who directed Pyaar Ka Punchnama 1 and 2 and Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety) has something in mind, though the timelines have yet to be decided. But Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety will definitely have a sequel while Pyaar Ka Punchnama will have a part 3,” he asserts, admitting that Kartik and he have stayed connected throughout the pandemic via messages and phone calls. “I’m sure we will have a blast when we reunite for these films or any other. We stay close by and our families take walks together at a nearby garden. So, now we are family friends,” he chuckles.

After a brief stint on TV with shows like Kasautii Zindagi Kay and Shakuntala, Sunny made his Bollywood debut with the Ajay Devgn-fronted, Dil Toh Baccha Hai Ji, followed by Luv Ranjan’s Akaash Vani, which featured Kartik in the lead. While the film failed commercially, it was the beginning of a successful partnership with Luv and Kartik. “I got into TV by chance, but even as a kid, I wanted to be a movie star. So, I groomed myself, took classes in acting, dancing and even action, met people and was rejected several times till I met Luv sir and things finally fell in place. Rejections are a part of every industry, but I was confident I’d live my dream one day. It takes time, but eventually talent speaks,” he points out.

He shot for an ad film recently and admits that it was hard to recognize anyone because everyone was masked and fitted out in PPE kits. “But this is the new normal,” he reasons, saying he’s looking forward to shooting a feature film in October-November but refuses to divulge details.

Buzz is, Sunny is teaming up with Fatima Sana Shaikh for a comedy to be directed by Sajid Samji. “It’s in the pipeline, but let’s see how things proceed in the post-Coronavirus days. Even I am waiting for clarity,” he says warily.

Having trained in action and dance, Sunny wants to do an action thriller. “The genre has always fascinated me because a lot of these films are inspired by real incidents,” he avers, admitting that he has been reading scripts during the lockdown and is looking to close the paperwork now that things are slowly opening up.

Sources say Pyaar Ka Punchnama actor Kartik Aaryan demanded fee hike when approached by makers of laugh riot for third instalment
Upala KBR (MID-DAY; May 26, 2018)

In Bollywood, a successful film is followed by two things — an increase in fan following, and a fatter pay cheque. Rumours are rife that Kartik Aaryan, who enjoyed a hit in Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety, has hiked his fee to a whopping Rs 3 crore. It has been heard that when director Luv Ranjan, and producers Kumar Mangat and Abhishek Pathak approached him for the third instalment of their successful franchise, Pyaar Ka Punchnama, Aaryan quoted his new market price.

Said a trade source, "Kartik's remuneration for his earlier projects had rumouredly been Rs 35 lakh. When they approached Kartik for Pyaar Ka Punchnama 3, they were shocked to hear his management agency ask for Rs 3 crore. Luv and the Pathaks gave him his break with the Punchnama series, and then Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety. Luv has been like his mentor. Since they consider Kartik their family, they are hoping to work out some kind of a solution."

Kumar Mangat Pathak said that the team is currently working on the script of the third part. "We will make an announcement about Pyaar Ka Punchnama 3 in 15 days. Kartik has every right to ask for Rs 3 crore as his last film was such a big hit, but at the moment, we don't have any project with him. Whenever we do a film together, I am sure Kartik won't discuss money. If we do, we will pay him whatever his market value is." Ranjan said, "I have no knowledge of it as we have never discussed money." Refusing to comment if Aaryan had hiked his fee for his next, the actor's spokesperson said, "Luv Ranjan is like his guru. They don't talk money."