Hrithik Roshan opts out of KJo’s Shuddhi

After months of speculation, actor has affirmed that he has bowed out from the film.

Recently, actor Kareena Kapoor Khan confessed in an interview that she is unsure about acting in Shuddhi as the film had been continuously postponed. The film hasn’t gone on the floors yet because the onscreen superhero, Hrithik Roshan has undergone several surgeries, post his head injury. He does not wish to be a hindrance in way of the project any further and has opted out of the film.

“Karan Malhotra (director) and I have decided to unite in the most ambitious way, post Shuddhi. For now, I cannot allow a vision like Shuddhi to stagnate any further,” Hrithik said in a statement.

The actor-director duo, earlier worked together on Agneepath. “I had the finest experience an actor can have working with Karan Malhotra in Agneepath and I’m sure both my dear Karans (director Malhotra and producer Johar) are going to go beyond with this one. Shuddhi remains a part of me in spirit and I am sure it will be a landmark in our cinema. I wish them all the best,” said Hrithik.

Plans for the film were first announced almost two years ago, with shooting scheduled to begin this year and a release slated for 2015. Now, despite Hrithik’s exit, sources have insisted that the film is very much on. An insider remarked: “There is no question of shelving it. The project is very close to both the Karans’ hearts.” Recently, Johar said in an interview that the film may take six months to a year to go on the floors, reported bollywood.com.

After speculation that Kareena may not continue to be a part of the film due to date issues and Hrithik’s decision to back out, the buzz now suggests that actors Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukone might replace the two.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 13^th, 2014.

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