Kartik Aaryan to lead Karan Johar’s biggest‑ever Dharma Productions film “Kaaliya”

Kartik Aaryan will headline Karan Johar’s biggest‑ever Dharma Productions venture, the mythic creature film “Kaaliya”, slated to start shooting in December 2026. The project is described as the most ambitious film Karan Johar has undertaken to date. It will be directed by Sandeep Modi, who previously worked on the series “The Night Manager”. The film brings together three National Award‑winning talents: actor Kartik Aaryan (known for “Chandu Champion”), director Sandeep Modi (credited for “Best Friends Forever”) and producer‑director Karan Johar (behind “Rocky Aur Rani Ki Prem Kahani”). Kaaliya is billed as a one‑of‑its‑kind mytho‑creature feature built on a large budget. The announcement is planned for this Diwali, with a strong video teaser that will be attached to the prints of the epic series “Ramayana” across theatres. The movie is currently in pre‑production, following Aaryan’s recent string of hits that include “Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2”, “Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3”, “Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety” and the “Punchnama” franchise.

Context

Mythic creature stories are uncommon in mainstream Hindi cinema, so a high‑budget project like Kaaliya signals a shift toward larger‑scale fantasy productions. Karan Johar’s studio has a history of backing big‑ticket films, which often set trends for the industry.