Bollywood is no stranger to the strange, but this one takes the cake—or should we say, the kaand.

After years of publicized fallout and industry buzz, Kartik Aaryan and Karan Johar have finally buried the hatchet.

The result? A bizarre and bold fantasy film titled Naag Zilla, produced by Dharma Productions and starring Kartik Aaryan as an icchadhari naag—a mythological shapeshifting snake with powers straight out of Indian folklore.

The unexpected announcement took fans and the film fraternity by surprise when both Kartik and Karan posted a stylized teaser on their Instagram profiles. The caption, as quirky as the concept, read:

"Insaanon wali picharein toh bahut dekh li, ab dekho naagon wali pichchar! #NaagZilla – Naag lok ka pehla kaand... Funnn phailaane aa raha hai – Preyamvadeshwar Pyare Chand…Naag Panchami par aapke nazdeeki Sssssinemas mein – 14 August 2026!"

And just like that, a film with one of the most offbeat concepts in recent times was born.

From Fallout to Fantasy

For the uninitiated, the story behind this collaboration is almost as dramatic as the film itself. Kartik Aaryan was previously set to star in Dostana 2, a reboot under Karan Johar’s banner. However, the actor was unceremoniously dropped from the project, reportedly due to creative differences or scheduling issues—depending on whom you ask. The fallout led to public speculation and what seemed to be a full-blown cold war between the two.

Fast forward to 2025, and Bollywood’s most surprising professional reunion is now official—and it's about snakes, shape-shifting, and a whole lot of spectacle.

The Teaser: A Glimpse into the Madness

The animated announcement video sets the tone. It begins with a cartoonish version of Kartik Aaryan morphing into a snake while delivering tongue-in-cheek lines about the oversaturation of human-centric stories in Bollywood. With clever wordplay and dramatic flair, Kartik’s voiceover encourages audiences to embrace something wildly different—a naag picture.

As absurd as it sounds, this surreal premise has already piqued public curiosity. Fans are buzzing about what to expect from a Dharma fantasy-comedy with Kartik Aaryan at the helm and the visual effects budget to back it up.

Watch the video here:


What We Know So Far

  • Title: Naag Zilla

  • Genre: Fantasy / Comedy / Adventure

  • Release Date: August 14, 2026, coinciding with Naag Panchami, a Hindu festival that celebrates serpents.

  • Production: Dharma Productions, in collaboration with Mahaveer Jain Films, Adar Poonawalla, and others.

  • Lead Role: Kartik Aaryan as Preyamvadeshwar Pyare Chand, a mythical icchadhari naag

  • Director & Cast: Yet to be officially revealed

With the announcement made more than a year in advance, it's clear that this is going to be a big-ticket release—possibly one of the most talked-about films of 2026.

What’s Next for Kartik Aaryan?

Before Kartik slithers into serpent mode for Naag Zilla, he’ll headline another Dharma project titled Tu Meri Main Tera, Main Tera Tu Meri, which is expected to be a romantic drama. Details remain under wraps, but the title suggests a soul-twisting love story.

Meanwhile, Kartik’s filmography continues to expand. He was last seen in the 2024 blockbuster Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3, which starred Triptii Dimri, Vidya Balan, and Madhuri Dixit. In 2025, he is set to appear in Aashiqui 3, opposite Sreeleela, directed by Anurag Basu, scheduled for an October release.

Kartik seems to be balancing crowd-pleasing masala with experimental roles—making Naag Zilla all the more intriguing as a high-risk, high-reward venture.

Karan Johar’s Busy Slate

On the production side, Karan Johar is staying just as active. Fresh off the release of Kesari 2, a patriotic drama starring Akshay Kumar, Karan is also reportedly overseeing multiple projects across genres—from love stories to historical biopics.

With Naag Zilla, Johar seems to be steering Dharma Productions into a new realm of genre filmmaking, aiming to appeal to younger, digital-savvy audiences hungry for fantasy, lore, and stylized spectacle.

Can ‘Naag Zilla’ Break the Mold?

While Bollywood has dabbled in fantasy—Naagin TV serials, Jaani Dushman, and more recently, Brahmāstra—it rarely does so with a comedic spin. That’s what makes Naag Zilla an anomaly. It’s poised to blend folklore, humor, and visual effects in a way that could either redefine Kartik Aaryan’s image or become another overhyped oddity.

With memes already flying across social media, it's clear Naag Zilla has hit a cultural nerve. Whether it ends up a blockbuster or a bizarre cult hit, it will certainly be one of the most watched—and talked-about—films of 2026.