Karan Johar announces new film, hits out at trolls: ‘Our next offering is the 24th debutant filmmaker we have introduced to Hindi cinema’

Amidst criticisms against his latest production Nadaaniyan, filmmaker Karan Johar took to social media on Thursday to inform that Dharma Productions is set to launch its 24th debutant director. Karan also announced his next production, which many on the internet assumed is Kesari 2.

The Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani (2023) director expressed his excitement for the project by calling it his ‘proudest film’ but didn’t name the project. Karan shared a brief pre-announcement note, taking a jibe at trolls for the nepotism tag.

“When I began producing films (once 1 stepped into Dharma as an active part of the company), in 2003 with Kal Ho Naa Ho – the idea was to empower filmmakers and storytellers…to pay it forward. We got it right…we got it wrong but the intent was always to put out stories and films we believed in. The motive was only either entertain, seek acclaim or to simply have fun at the movies!” he wrote.

Karan went on to take a hit at his trollers who criticise him of promoting nepotism and not giving breaks to outsiders, “I am so proud to say that our next offering is the 24th debutant filmmaker we have introduced to Hindi cinema! (Trivia for trollers: 90 per cent of them are ‘outsiders’) (sic). I rarely write notes before the release of a film but few films excite me, energise me and inspire me the way the process of this film has. Our collaborative producer and debutant director have been on the journey of this film for 4 years (sic),” he wrote.

The filmmaker went on to praise the upcoming film’s director. “The director did nothing else but put his head down and work relentlessly on his film combating pandemic delays and other unforeseen circumstances. I am inspired by the team of actors and technicians who gave the film and the team so much consistent support and love. One can never predict commercial success BUT what I can say with all my heart is that this film is one of Dharma’s proudest films. I say this as a filmmaker and an audience. I pray for the team that the audience is coloured in the colour of their passion. See you at the movies (sic),” he concluded.

Instagram users flooded the comments section to guess the film’s name and many said that it is Kesari 2. The sequel to the 2019 film Kesari is expected to star Akshay Kumar, Ananya Panday and R Madhavan.