Karan Johar’s long-delayed historical drama Takht may not be heading to theaters anytime soon, but the project is far from dead. The ambitious film, first announced in 2020, generated enormous excitement thanks to its star-packed cast featuring Ranveer Singh, Alia Bhatt, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Vicky Kaushal, Janhvi Kapoor, and Anil Kapoor. However, despite plans for a 2021 holiday release, the movie quietly disappeared from Dharma Productions’ slate.
Now, actor Mahir Pandhi, who was also part of the project, has shared fresh details about why the film never moved forward.
Speaking to Mid-Day, Pandhi explained that Takht was more than just another Bollywood production. According to him, the film held special significance because it was connected to a long-cherished vision associated with the Johar family. He noted that the script was rooted in real historical events, making it difficult to alter key facts or simplify the story.
Pandhi revealed that the COVID-19 pandemic created major obstacles. With a cast filled with some of India’s biggest stars, coordinating schedules became nearly impossible after the industry shutdown. Even postponing the project by a few years would not have solved the issue, as aligning everyone’s availability remained a major challenge.
Another factor was the film’s enormous budget, which reportedly crossed $24 million. Such large-scale investments became harder to justify in a post-pandemic entertainment landscape where audience preferences had evolved significantly.
The actor also admitted that being cast in a Dharma Productions film had initially opened doors for him in the industry. He was welcomed into Bollywood’s inner circles and felt he was on the verge of a breakthrough. When the project stalled, he described the disappointment as one of the hardest moments of his career.
Despite the setback, Karan Johar recently confirmed that Takht has not been permanently shelved. He called it one of the strongest screenplays ever developed under his banner and credited writer Sumit Roy for creating what he considers the best-written script of his career.
Set during the Mughal era, Takht centers on the fierce battle for power between brothers Dara Shikoh and Aurangzeb. While the grand historical spectacle remains on hold, Johar insists he still intends to bring the dream project to life someday.
