Karan Johar is back behind the camera after 5 years, with another love story "that is deeply embedded in the roots of family". Starring Ranveer Singh and Alia Bhatt as the titular Rocky Aur Rani in Rocky Aur Rani Ki Prem Kahani, the film is written by Ishita Moitra (Kambakkht Ishq, Always Kabhi Kabhi), Shashank Khaitan (Dhadak, Bhadrinath Ki Dulhaniya, Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhaniya), and Sumit Roy (Zubaan).
With candy floss colours for "Rocky" and the typography for "Rani" ending in the nib of an ink pen, the film looks like a love story between a free spirit and literary one. The upbeat track and the fireworks gives the sense of a fun romantic caper full of celebration.
Johar's last film was Ae Dil Hai Mushkil (2016), a love triangle starring Ranbir Kapoor, Anushka Sharma, and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan. Karan Johar's much discussed historical film, Takht, which seems to be shelved for now, was supposed to be his next film. That film described by Johar as "K3G of the Mughal Era" was announced with much fanfare on Twitter, with Johar tweeting images of doing the recce. The cast included Anil Kapoor, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Ranveer Singh, Alia Bhatt, Vicky Kaushal, Bhumi Pednekar and Janhvi Kapoor in the lead roles.
The film, with a budget between 250-300 crores, was supposed to start shooting in 2020 but the COVID-19 pandemic has caused some reshuffling — perhaps due to the costs involved with films like Brahmastra and Liger still in production, or the fraught political atmosphere where period films are being scrutinized with a sledgehammer. In February this year Johar noted, "Takht is not shelved. It's just delayed."
Rocky Aur Rani Ki Prem Kahani is looking for a 2022 release date.