Bollywood’s master of glitz and glamour, Karan Johar, has sent ripples through the industry with the announcement of his next big venture — and this time, it’s not the usual glossy romance or family drama audiences associate with Dharma Productions. Instead, Johar is stepping into rather quirky and uncharted territory with a film titled Naagzilla, featuring Kartik Aaryan in the lead role. The announcement, which came via social media, instantly sparked waves of both excitement and confusion among fans.
The film, scheduled to hit theatres on August 14, 2026, will be directed by Mrighdeep Singh Lamba — best known for helming the Fukrey series, which has earned cult status for its youthful humor and slice-of-life storytelling. But this time, Lamba’s signature style is set to take a wild turn with Naagzilla, described as a blend of fantasy and drama revolving around the age-old folklore of shape-shifting serpents — or ‘naags.’
Karan Johar, who shared the film’s motion poster on his official Instagram handle, revealed Kartik Aaryan’s first look in this daring new avatar. The poster showcases the actor in an intriguing, almost surreal setup — shirtless and clad in nothing but a pair of rugged blue jeans, his skin transformed into a textured, scaly green, resembling that of a mythical snake creature. Kartik’s character is seen gazing over a sprawling urban skyline from the depths of a shadowy, snake-infested lair, setting the tone for what appears to be a unique cinematic journey.
As soon as the announcement hit the internet, fans flooded social platforms with mixed reactions. While some praised Dharma Productions for attempting something out-of-the-box, others couldn’t help but compare the concept to Ekta Kapoor’s hugely popular TV franchise Naagin, which has long been the go-to for snake-based fantasy drama on Indian television. Many social media users humorously dubbed this unexpected crossover of themes “the Ektafication of Dharma.”
One comment read, “It’s like Dharma has suddenly walked into Ekta Kapoor’s world — I never thought I’d see the day!” Another user cheekily wrote, “Are you taking away Ekta Kapoor’s bread and butter now?” referring to the television czarina’s domination of the supernatural space.
Several fans also voiced nostalgia for Johar’s earlier work, hoping for a return to the emotionally rich, family-centric cinema he once defined with hits like Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham, Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, and Kapoor & Sons. “Please, Karan! I miss the golden era of your movies. This isn’t the vibe I fell in love with. Where’s the heartfelt storytelling?” lamented one user.
Adding to the chatter was the fact that the film’s release date is more than a year away, leaving some fans bemused by the early reveal. “Isn’t this announcement a little too early? We’ve got all of 2025 to get through first!” joked another fan, while someone else speculated if the bizarre nature of the concept was part of an elaborate prank: “Is this for real or an April Fool’s post in disguise?”
Despite the divided opinions, one thing is clear — Naagzilla has already succeeded in creating a buzz that few announcements manage to achieve this early. Whether this film will rewrite the rules for fantasy storytelling in Bollywood or turn into a meme magnet remains to be seen. What’s certain, though, is that the pairing of Kartik Aaryan and Karan Johar, under the directorial vision of Mrighdeep Singh Lamba, promises a film unlike anything we’ve seen from Dharma before.
The clock is ticking toward August 2026, and all eyes are now on how this fantastical venture will unfold on the big screen.
