Ayushmann Khurrana and Kareena Kapoor not to work together on Meghna Gulzar’s film: reports

Fans were thrilled by the announcement that Kareena Kapoor Khan and Ayushmann Khurrana would be working together in a film directed by Meghna Gulzar. This would have been their first on-screen pairing. However, it has now come to light that Ayushmann has withdrawn from the project due to scheduling conflicts.

As reported by Mid-day, Ayushmann Khurrana’s schedule for the second half of 2024 is too packed to accommodate Meghna Gulzar’s film, tentatively titled Daayra. The film’s production is set to begin by the end of the year, which coincides with Ayushmann’s US music tour and his commitments to two other film projects, including Border 2. The portal mentioned that while dates for the various projects are still being negotiated, Meghna Gulzar’s film is no longer on Ayushmann’s schedule. The production team has been notified, and Gulzar is currently searching for a replacement.

While on Ayushmann, in 2019, the actor had teamed up with Raaj Shaandilyaa in the hugely successful comedy, Dream Girl, which became his highest-grossing film. Now, five years later, the film has now turned into a franchise, with its sequel also proving to be a box office hit. With two consecutive successes under their belt, Ayushmann and Raaj have developed a strong synergy, and now, the duo is in discussions for their third collaboration.

According to a Pinkvilla source close to the project, Raaj Shaandilyaa has penned a mad family comedy that has caught Ayushmann’s interest. “The film is a standalone comedy, not Dream Girl 3. Raaj has crafted a unique comic entertainer and Ayushmann is impressed with the core idea,” revealed the source. “The script is expected to be completed within a month, after which a narration will follow.”

Currently, Raaj Shaandilyaa is occupied with Vicky Vidya Ka Woh Wala Video, while Ayushmann Khurrana is filming an untitled comedy produced by Karan Johar and Guneet Monga. Following this, Ayushmann will begin shooting Vampires of Vijay Nagar in October, produced by Dinesh Vijan. “Both Ayushmann and Raaj are aligned on the shooting schedule. If all goes as planned, the untitled comedy is slated to commence filming by March 2024, once their current commitments wrap up,” added the source.

While details of the plot remain confidential, the film promises to be a unique comedy that will resonate with family audiences. “It’s a grounded comedy set in rural India, but with a fresh twist. The goal is to achieve a hat-trick of hits, and both Ayushmann and Raaj are meticulously focusing on the script,” concluded the source.