Following production delays, casting shuffles, and several attempts at a revival, Dostana 2 has drifted back into the crosshairs of industry speculation. According to a recent Variety India report, filmmaker Advait Chandan has exited the project. However, there has been no official confirmation from the makers regarding his status.
Advait Chandan was brought in to revive Dostana 2
Director Advait Chandan, known for projects like Secret Superstar and Laal Singh Chaddha, was originally brought on board after the film’s initial director, Collin D’Cunha, walked away from the production.
Earlier reports in February 2026 stated that he would direct the revamped version of Dostana 2, which was expected to star Vikrant Massey, Lakshya and former Miss India World Sini Shetty. At the time, the project appeared to be finally moving forward after years of uncertainty.
Sini, who won the Miss India World title in 2022, is a trained Bharatanatyam dancer and has long expressed an interest in acting. The film would mark her Bollywood debut.
However, the fresh report claims that Advait Chandan has exited the project due to creative differences with the makers. While director shake-ups often spark rumours of behind-the-scenes drama, it is said that the exit was amicable and there is no bad blood with the makers. With Advait out of the picture, Karan Johar’s Dharma Productions is once again left searching for a creative captain to steer the long-delayed franchise sequel back on track.
A project that has struggled to stay on track
The road to bringing Dostana 2 to the big screen has been one of the most talked-about rollercoasters in modern Bollywood. The first film Dostana, released in 2008, starred Priyanka Chopra, Abhishek Bachchan, and John Abraham, with a special appearance by Bobby Deol. Then, in 2019, Dharma Productions announced the highly anticipated sequel with a fresh star cast featuring Kartik Aaryan, Janhvi Kapoor, and Lakshya. The shoot also began in Goa, and a significant portion of the film was shot before a massive behind-the-scenes fallout in 2021 changed everything.
Kartik Aaryan’s abrupt departure from the project brought production to a sudden halt and triggered a major industry storm. At the time, Dharma Productions had posted a statement that they would never work with Kartik again. However, time has clearly smoothed over past friction as Kartik is currently collaborating with Karan Johar’s banner for their upcoming film, Naagzilla.
Over the years, the shelved sequel has quietly evolved behind closed doors, undergoing several creative overhauls as the studio experimented with revised scripts and fresh casting combinations. Despite multiple setbacks and years in limbo, the production house refused to entirely give up on the sequel.
