After Karan Johar’s exit of Karthik Aryan after Vikrant Massey 2 in Doostana: Report
Vikrant Massey is rumored to replace Karthik Aryan in Karan Johar’s very delayed Dostana 2, which is expected to begin shooting in January 2026. The film will also act to Laxman and introduce a fresh woman lead.
After much speculation and a long wait, Karan Johar’s ‘Dostana 2’ is in the news with a new lead actor. The much awaited sequel to the 2008 hit ‘Doostana’ has faced a delay and controversy, especially after the reported results between Dharma Productions and actor Karthik Aryan. Now, fresh reports suggest that Wickran Massey has stepped into the project to title.
According to a report by PinkvillaMassey will include actor Laxman in the film, stating that he also presents a first female actor mainly. While an official announcement is still waiting, the report states that the producers are aiming to start shooting in January 2026, with a dramatic release for the end of the same year.
A source close to Vikas told The News Portal, “Dorostana 2 has been in development for some time, and the manufacturers have cracked an ideal script that can move the franchise in a progressive manner. Dostana 2 will have the facility to launch Vikrant Massee with Laxman, which is to launch as a first film.”
The film is expected to be directed by a filmmaker at the current planning stages, which will be finalized in the coming weeks. The source said, “Dostana 2 is being conceptualized as a dramatic film, with friends, comedy, romance and drama. The conversation is going on with the filmmakers, and a director will be closed in a fortnight.”
The original casting of ‘Doostana 2’ included Karthik Aryan and Janhvi Kapoor. However, in 2021, Religion Productions confirmed that they would “recurrence” the film after Karthik’s departure. The actor later addressed the issue in 2024, which revealed the story, but was tight about the production house details.
Meanwhile, both actors have gone to other projects. Karthik Aryan will be seen next time in Anurag Basu’s untitled film and Karan Johar’s ‘Nagzila’. On the other hand, Vikrant Massey, a busy run, is currently working on Sri Sri Ravi Shankar biopic and ‘Don 3’, which is expected to be wrapped by the end of 2025.
For Dharma Productions, the banner is ready for many releases including ‘Dhadak 2’ and ‘Sunny Sansari Ki Tulsikumari’ in 2026, while this year ‘TU Meri Main Terra Main Tera Tu Tu Meri’ and ‘Nagzila’ – are also preparing to launch both projects.
