Karan Johar has clarified that his long-planned historical drama Takht is not dead, even though production has stopped for now. Johar recently said he still aims to direct the film, which he regards as one of the most powerful scripts developed at Dharma Productions, despite major hurdles over budget, casting and timing.
The project, first announced in 2020, was once positioned as a major Christmas 2021 release. Takht boasted a heavyweight ensemble with Ranveer Singh, Alia Bhatt, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Vicky Kaushal, Janhvi Kapoor and Anil Kapoor attached. The film later vanished from Dharma Productions’ official slate, prompting speculation about its fate within the industry and among fans.
Takht script and Karan Johar’s commitment to the film
In a conversation with Hindustan Times, Johar stressed that no other form or spin-off of Takht is in development right now. However, Johar underlined that the film remains a priority in spirit, saying, “But Takht is a film I will definitely make while I can still breathe and stand on my feet. I consider it one of the strongest screenplays developed, written by Sumit Roy—full credit to him. I believe it is the best-written piece of work in my career, and I hope to make that film one day.”
Takht cast, budget and challenges after COVID-19
Actor Mahir Pandhi, who had also been cast in Takht, recently discussed why the production stopped moving. Speaking to Mid-Day, Mahir pointed to the massive scale of the film and the complicated logistics after the COVID-19 outbreak. Mahir also said that the film was being mounted on a budget that had crossed Rs 200 crore, which added to pressure on scheduling and planning.
Mahir explained that the COVID-19 pandemic made coordinating the star cast almost impossible. The ensemble included multiple top-billed actors, each with crowded calendars after shoots restarted. As projects resumed industry-wide, securing matching dates for Ranveer Singh, Alia Bhatt, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Vicky Kaushal, Janhvi Kapoor, Anil Kapoor and other actors became increasingly difficult, even when the team looked ahead by years.
Takht historical setting and script concerns for current audience
Takht is designed as a period drama rooted in Mughal-era power dynamics. The narrative focuses on the intense rivalry between brothers Dara Shikoh and Aurangzeb, set against wider court politics. The film was first teased with visuals of a regal throne, building expectations for a large-scale spectacle. Its sudden halt surprised many, given the combination of subject, scale and marquee cast.
Mahir described how those same qualities created creative constraints. Mahir told Mid-Day, “Takht was not a normal film. It was Mr Yash Johar’s last dream project and had a historic connection to it. When you write a script based on history, you can’t change the facts. Once COVID happened, it became extremely difficult to bring together so many actors and align their dates.” Mahir added, “Even if you wanted to plan it two years later, it would have been impossible to get the entire cast together. And if you make Takht today, you would have to rewrite the script from scratch because the audience has changed,” highlighting concerns that viewer tastes in 2026 differ from those before the pandemic.
The actor also shared how the pause affected Mahir’s own journey in Bollywood. Mahir said, “I was almost living that dream. I was being invited to parties, and they made me feel welcome. I was made to feel like a part of the film. If I look back, only I know how difficult it was to accept the fact that a Dharma film was not going to happen for me,” describing a sharp shift in how the industry responded once the project stopped.
For now, Takht remains on hold, shaped by its high budget, complex casting demands and the need to rethink the script for changing audience expectations. Johar maintains faith in Sumit Roy’s writing and continues to see the film as a key creative goal, while Mahir’s account underlines how large-scale projects can reshape, and sometimes stall, careers when circumstances change.
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