Karan Johar Opens Up About Mending Ties With “Big Star” Kartik Aaryan After Fallout
Karan Johar called Bollywood “a family” while addressing his previous fallout with Kartik Aaryan and their upcoming collaboration.
In the film industry, professional relationships often go through ups and downs, but what truly matters is the ability to move forward and collaborate on new creative ventures. This was the case for filmmaker Karan Johar and actor Kartik Aaryan, who, after a fallout in 2021 that led to Kartik's exit from ‘Dostana 2’, have now reconciled and teamed up for a new comedy film, ‘Tu Meri Main Tera Main Tera Tu Meri’.
In a recent interview with Bollywood Hungama, Karan Johar shed light on their upcoming collaboration, stating that both parties decided to let bygones be bygones. Acknowledging Kartik’s strong work ethic and rising stardom, Karan emphasized that they internally resolved their differences and came together with a shared vision to create compelling cinema.
“I think we internally discussed it, worked it out and let bygones be bygones. Kartik is an immensely hardworking actor and a very connective big star today who has a wide audience space. He has a great instinct on screenplay. He and I met, collaborated and decided to come together — it was all lovely,” Karan Johar said.
Karan Johar likened the Bollywood industry to a family where occasional misunderstandings are inevitable but noted that the bigger picture – making great films – always prevails. Despite their past disagreements, both were eager to move forward, ensuring that creative pursuits weren’t overshadowed by personal conflicts.
He added, “I have had, he’s had issues with each other, but it's a tiny industry, which I call a family. I believe that in a family, kabhi kabhi gile shikwe ho jaate hain, but I think good people want to make good films, create good content and, as I said, we don't sweat the small stuff — we have a larger vision to look at.”
The fallout stemmed from ‘Dostana 2’, a Dharma Productions film that was announced in 2019 with Kartik and Janhvi Kapoor in lead roles. The COVID-19 pandemic delayed filming, and eventually, the production house decided to reconsider the cast, leading to Kartik’s departure amid rumours of tensions between him and Karan Johar.
Fast-forward to today, and Kartik is now working on ‘Tu Meri Main Tera Main Tera Tu Meri’ alongside Ananya Panday. Directed by Sameer Vidwans, who previously collaborated with Kartik on ‘SatyaPrem Ki Katha’, the film is backed by Karan Johar and is slated for a theatrical release on February 13, 2026.
Additionally, Kartik has another upcoming project, ‘Nagzilla’, which is set to hit cinemas on August 14, 2026.
In the same podcast, Karan Johar spoke about Ranbir Kapoor and Ranveer Singh’s bond and clarified that there’s no ego clash or unhealthy competition between the two actors.
During the podcast, Karan Johar was asked if casting either of them creates a tiff between him and Ranbir or Ranveer. To which, he replied, “Everybody is understanding of each other, there is no ego. This is all very old school of looking at it in that gaze or lens. I don’t look at it like that, I am sure they don’t either.”
“I remember when I did Ae Dil Hai Mushkil, Ranveer watching the film, coming to my house and telling me about his thoughts. It was so wonderful. I also remember Ranbir giving me feedback on Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani. We are friends more than anything else. We have hung out with each other. We have chatted with each other. We talk shop, but we also talk about our personal lives and feelings. All of us are a bunch of people who are here to tell stories, make movies, and learn and imbibe from each other,” he added.
Karan Johar also mentioned that both the actors have helped him learn a lot as a filmmaker. “I have learnt so much from both Ranbir and Ranveer while directing them. I am sure I may have also contributed to their thoughts. I know that I am a better filmmaker today because I have directed them, they are both wonderful actors,” he said.
