PremiumKesari Chapter 2: Did Karan Johar confirm rebranding Akshay Kumar, Ananya Panday, and R Madhavan starrer with a debutant director?
Karan Johar has been in the news for backing Kesari Chapter 2 for a while and he has probably confirmed the project now.
Did Karan Johar Confirm Kesari Chapter 2?
Last Updated: 02.27 PM, Mar 20, 2025
Speculation is at its peak regarding a specific project at Dharma Productions' head office. Recently, reports surfaced that head honcho Karan Johar is backing a sequel to the hit Akshay Kumar-led period drama Kesari, tentatively titled Kesari Chapter 2. However, there was no official confirmation, leading to chaos in the rumour mill. Some reports suggested that one of Dharma's already-in-production films, starring Akshay Kumar, Ananya Panday, and R. Madhavan, was being rebranded as Kesari: Chapter 2, while others claimed it was a completely new project.
Now, Karan Johar has finally broken his silence—albeit cryptically—confirming that a film along the lines of Kesari Chapter 2 is indeed happening, though he has not revealed any further details. Read on to find out everything we know so far.
Karan Johar’s Cryptic Confirmation
For the uninitiated, Karan Johar recently took to social media to confirm that he is backing a new project, which he calls one of Dharma Productions' proudest films. While he didn’t explicitly name the film, his announcement was shared on a saffron-themed background, accompanied by saffron heart emojis, hinting strongly at Kesari Chapter 2. What he did confirm, however, is that the film is helmed by a debutant director who has been working on the project relentlessly for 4-5 years. 5 Akshay Kumar films to stream if you are a fan; bonus some are on OTTplay Premium.
In his post, Karan reflected on his journey with Dharma Productions, recalling how, when he took over the banner with Kal Ho Naa Ho in 2003, his goal was to empower filmmakers and storytellers. “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 to entertain, seek acclaim, or simply have fun at the movies.”
He then revealed that this upcoming project marks the 24th debutant filmmaker Dharma has introduced to Hindi cinema. “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% of them are ‘outsiders’). I rarely write notes before the release of a film, but few films excite me, energize me, and inspire me the way the process of this film has.”
A Film Four Years in the Making
Further elaborating, Karan praised the debutant director for his dedication and resilience, especially in overcoming delays caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and other unforeseen challenges. “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.”
He concluded by expressing his deep faith in the project, stating: “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 member. I pray for the team that the audience is colored in the color of their passion. See you at the movies.”
Who Is the Director? What Is the Film About?
According to reports, the debutant director in question is Karan Singh Tyagi, who previously worked as a writer on Amazon Prime Video’s Bandish Bandits. This strongly indicates that the upcoming period drama starring Akshay Kumar, Ananya Panday, and R. Madhavan—directed by Karan Singh Tyagi—has now been rebranded as Kesari Chapter 2.
Additionally, sources suggest that the film is a biopic based on N. Sankaran Nair, although no official confirmation has been made regarding this. With Karan Johar now teasing the project, an official announcement seems imminent, and anticipation is running high.
Stay tuned to OTTplay for more updates on this and everything else from the world of streaming and films.-