Dhanush, Kareena to team up for Bhansali's production venture?
What's the story
Director PS Mithran, who is currently promoting his film Sardar 2, has confirmed that talks are on for a Hindi film with actor Dhanush and Sanjay Leela Bhansali's production house. The project will also feature actor Kareena Kapoor Khan. "Talks are underway, we are looking at the dates for confirmation. Hopefully, something good will come out of it," Mithran told Cinema Vikatan.
New pairing
Will it be a mythological jungle adventure?
The upcoming project, if confirmed, will be the first collaboration between Kapoor Khan and Dhanush.
The two actors have never shared screen space before, nor have they worked with Bhansali.
The film has been generating buzz since early August and is reportedly a mythological jungle adventure on a grand scale.
Production timeline
Mithran's possible Bollywood directorial debut
Bollywood Hungama recently reported that the film is currently in the writing stage, with multiple rewrites before finalization.
Pre-production is expected to begin in November 2026, followed by principal photography in January 2027.
If this project materializes, it will mark Mithran's Bollywood directorial debut.
Past rift
History between Kapoor Khan and Bhansali
Adding to the intrigue around the project is Kapoor Khan's reported involvement.
The actor had a major rift with Bhansali in the early 2000s when he tested her for Devdas but eventually cast Aishwarya Rai Bachchan as Paro.
In a 2002 chat with Filmfare, Kapoor Khan had said, "What he did to me was wrong. He screen-tested me for Devdas, gave me a signing amount, then took someone else. That was wrong; it hurt."
Director's defense
Bhansali's version of the story
Bhansali, however, had a different version of the story.
He said that Kapoor Khan approached him for the role, and he set up a test shoot for her as he had not seen her work until then.
"After going through the photographs, I told Kareena that I felt Aishwarya Rai was fabulous and perfect for Paro; she has the aristocratic looks I required."
Career updates
Meanwhile, on Kapoor Khan and Dhanush's work front
Kapoor Khan is currently attached to Daayra, Meghna Gulzar's crime thriller co-starring Prithviraj Sukumaran, which hits theaters on September 18.
On the other hand, Dhanush recently had a major hit in Bollywood with Aanand L Rai's 2025 film Tere Ishk Mein.
He was last seen in Kara, directed by Vignesh Raja.