Koffee With Karan 9: Sidharth Malhotra was to headline an Aditya Dhar film at Dharma Productions – Karan Johar makes SURPRISING revelation!
Actor Sidharth Malhotra has revealed that he was once set to collaborate with filmmaker Aditya Dhar on a project backed by Dharma Productions. The actor shared the information during his recent appearance on Koffee With Karan, where host Karan Johar brought up the long-discussed collaboration while asking him about directors he would like to work with.
During the conversation, Johar named several filmmakers, including Aditya Dhar, Mohit Suri, Sandeep Reddy Vanga and Sanjay Leela Bhansali, and asked Malhotra, “Aditya Dhar, Mohit Suri, Sandeep Reddy Vanga, Sanjay Leela Bhansali, the directors of the moment. Is there anyone you’re willing to do anything to work with?” Responding to the question, Malhotra said, “Oh wow, I think all of them are extremely exciting. Maybe Aditya, because I’ve interacted with him in the past.”
Johar then brought up their earlier association, reminding the actor of a project that had been planned several years ago. “You were meant to do a film many moons ago.” To which Sidharth replied, “Yes, in Dharma itself.”
The brief exchange brought attention to a collaboration that never materialised. The project was reportedly in development during Aditya Dhar’s early years in the industry, before he made his directorial debut with Uri: The Surgical Strike in 2019. Although the film with Malhotra was to be backed by Dharma Productions, it did not progress to the shooting stage. Neither the actor, nor the filmmaker shared further details about the proposed project during the conversation.
Interestingly, both Malhotra and Dhar have since explored stories rooted in action, military operations and national security, albeit through different projects. Malhotra has essayed defence personnel and characters associated with national security in films such as Aiyaary (2018), Mission Majnu (2023) and Yodha (2024). His performance as Captain Vikram Batra in the 2021 biographical war drama Shershaah earned him considerable appreciation and remains a notable film in his career.
Dhar, meanwhile, established himself as a filmmaker with Uri: The Surgical Strike, which went on to become a significant milestone in his career. His subsequent work in Dhurandhar and Dhurandhar The Revenge has further strengthened his association with large-scale action narratives and technically ambitious storytelling.
While the Koffee With Karan conversation did not indicate whether the two are considering working together in the future, Malhotra’s revelation offers a glimpse into a collaboration that was planned long before either had established their current standing in the industry.
The post Koffee With Karan 9: Sidharth Malhotra was to headline an Aditya Dhar film at Dharma Productions – Karan Johar makes SURPRISING revelation! appeared first on Bollywood Hungama.