Karan Johar and Kartik Aaryan are poised to extend their creative partnership with yet another high-profile collaboration, reinforcing one of the industry’s most closely watched filmmaker-actor alliances. Their upcoming project, which is slated to begin filming in August 2026, marks their third film together and signals a deepening relationship between Kartik and Dharma Productions.
The announcement follows the momentum generated by their two ongoing ventures, Tu Meri Main Tera Main Tera Tu Meri and Naagzilla, both of which are positioned as major box-office drivers for the banner. Industry chatter indicates that Kartik’s trajectory within Dharma is sharply ascending. A recent Bollywood Hungama report suggests that the actor has already committed to leading a third Dharma-backed film, with the project currently being developed from scratch. Details are being kept tightly confidential, but insiders describe the film as genre-defining, hinting at a bold conceptual leap from the studio.
According to a source quoted in the report, Kartik’s consistent delivery and growing popularity have solidified his standing as one of Dharma’s new marquee faces. The insider noted that Kartik has given Karan Johar an immediate green light for the next script and is now being positioned as the studio’s new poster boy. Within the production house, he is seen as one of the most bankable actors in the country, with Johar reportedly placing significant box-office expectations on both Tu Meri Main Tera Main Tera Tu Meri and Naagzilla.
The timing of this new project aligns with the increasing buzz around Naagzilla, which is shaping up to be far more ambitious than initially expected. The fantasy drama, in which Kartik plays Preyamvadeshwar Pyare Chand, an Ichhadhaari Naag, is set for release on August 14, 2026, coinciding with Naag Panchami. The film is already being developed as a franchise. The same source revealed that as soon as the first instalment is unveiled, pre-production for the subsequent part will begin immediately. Interestingly, Kartik will be the only constant across the series, while the cast and crew are expected to change with each film, giving the franchise a dynamic creative structure.
For both Karan Johar and Kartik Aaryan, the period leading up to and beyond mid-2026 is shaping into an exceptionally busy and strategically critical phase. With multiple large-scale productions in motion and another high-stakes film set to roll in August 2026, their partnership is evolving into a defining force in contemporary Hindi cinema.
As anticipation builds, industry watchers are keen to see how this trio of projects positions Kartik within Dharma’s broader slate and the overall landscape of star-driven entertainers. For now, what stands out is a clear vote of confidence from one of Bollywood’s most influential filmmakers, and an actor whose rise shows no signs of slowing.