Dostana 2 in Trouble Again? Advait Chandan Steps Away from Vikrant Massey-Lakshya Project: Report

Karan Johar’s Dharma Productions has reportedly hit yet another roadblock with its highly anticipated romantic comedy sequel, Dostana 2. According to recent reports, director Advait Chandan, who is widely known for helming successful projects like Secret Superstar and Laal Singh Chaddha, has officially stepped down as the director of the film. The filmmaker had reportedly spent nearly seven months actively developing the project and shaping its narrative before deciding to walk away. Industry sources indicate that the sudden separation stemmed from deeply rooted creative differences, as Advait Chandan’s unique artistic vision for the script and overall treatment did not match the commercial direction that the production house wished to pursue. Fortunately, the exit has been described as completely amicable, with no public fallout or bad blood lingering between the filmmaker and the studio, leaving both parties on warm terms.

This surprising development marks yet another turbulent chapter in the chaotic production journey of Dostana 2, which has remained in a state of limbo for several years. The sequel to the 2008 blockbuster hit original—which featured Priyanka Chopra, Abhishek Bachchan, and John Abraham—was initially announced back in 2019 with a completely different frontline cast including Kartik Aaryan, Janhvi Kapoor, and Lakshya. Under the original direction of Collin D’Cunha, the team had even commenced shooting and completed significant schedules in Goa before a highly publicized behind-the-scenes rift in 2021 led to Kartik Aaryan’s abrupt departure, completely halting the project. While the script was shelved for a long period, Dharma Productions refused to drop the idea entirely and quietly initiated a complete creative overhaul behind closed doors, experimenting with completely fresh ideas to bring the franchise back to life.

In its newly reimagined avatar, the film was recently revived with an exciting new casting combination featuring critical favorite Vikrant Massey alongside rising star Lakshya, while former Miss India World Sini Shetty was heavily rumored to make her big Bollywood debut as the female lead. Vikrant Massey had even publicly expressed his immense excitement about officially joining his very first Dharma Productions venture, teasing a highly stylish avatar that fans had never seen before. However, with Advait Chandan suddenly stepping away from the project and concurrent industry rumors suggesting that Lakshya might also reconsider his involvement to focus on other commitments, the entire future of the film has once again drifted into intense uncertainty. Karan Johar and his team are now forced to restart their search for a fresh creative captain to steer the script forward, leaving eager fans wondering if this long-delayed sequel will ever successfully make its way onto the silver screen.