Kareena Kapoor, Ayushmann Khurrana's anticipated pairing in Meghna Gulzar's film falls through

Fans were thrilled by the announcement of a collaboration between Kareena Kapoor Khan and Ayushmann Khurrana in a film directed by Meghna Gulzar.

The pairing promised to be exciting, marking their first on-screen collaboration. However, Ayushmann Khurrana has now withdrawn from the project due to scheduling conflicts.

According to Indian media reports, Ayushmann’s schedule for the latter half of 2024 is packed, making it impossible for him to accommodate Meghna Gulzar’s film, tentatively titled "Daayra."

Production for the film is set to commence at the end of the year, coinciding with Ayushmann's US music tour and his commitments to two other film projects, including "Border 2." The production team has been notified of his unavailability, and Meghna Gulzar is currently seeking a replacement.

In a related note, Ayushmann Khurrana is enjoying the success of the "Dream Girl" franchise, which he created alongside director Raaj Shaandilyaa. The original "Dream Girl," released in 2019, became Ayushmann's highest-grossing film. The sequel also proved to be a box office hit, solidifying the actor-director duo's successful collaboration. They are now in talks for a third project.

According to media reports, Raaj Shaandilyaa has crafted a new standalone comedy, not related to the "Dream Girl" series, which has piqued Ayushmann's interest. “The film is a mad family comedy, and Ayushmann is impressed with the core idea,” revealed a source. The script is expected to be completed within a month, followed by a narration.

Raaj Shaandilyaa is currently busy with "Vicky Vidya Ka Woh Wala Video," while Ayushmann is working on an untitled comedy produced by Karan Johar and Guneet Monga. Ayushmann is also scheduled to start shooting for "Vampires of Vijay Nagar," produced by Dinesh Vijan, in October.

The source added, "If all goes as planned, the untitled comedy is slated to begin filming by March 2024, after their current commitments are fulfilled."

The new film promises to be a unique comedy that resonates with family audiences. “It’s a grounded comedy set in rural India, but with a fresh twist. Ayushmann and Raaj aim to achieve a hat-trick of hits, and they are meticulously focusing on the script," concluded the source.