Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra to Direct Vikrant Massey in Love Story Ahead of Salman Khan’s Karna
Filmmaker Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra is preparing to direct an upcoming romance starring Vikrant Massey before commencing production on his long-term mythological war epic, according to an industry report.
What Happened
As reported by Bollywood Hungama, director Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra has finalized Vikrant Massey as the lead for his next directorial venture, described as a small-town love story. The project is planned as a quick 30-day shoot, based on a narrative that the director has developed and carried with him for some time.
This production will take place prior to Mehra’s large-scale project, Karna, an epic based on the conflicted character from The Mahabharata. Bollywood superstar Salman Khan is locked to portray the titular role in the film, which is backed by Excel Entertainment.
Key Highlights
- Interim Project: Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra will direct a 30-day small-town love story featuring Vikrant Massey.
- Epic in Development: The filmmaker’s ambitious war epic, Karna, has already been in development for five years.
- Salman Khan as Karna: Salman Khan has come on board to play the central role in the two-part mythological epic.
- Timeline for Karna: Pre-production and casting for Karna remain active, with filming scheduled to kick off in August 2027.
- Parallel Work: Excel Entertainment and a dedicated technical crew will continue pre-production on Karna while Mehra shoots the romantic project.
Why This Matters
The timeline reveals a strategic scheduling decision by the filmmaker and his production partners. Karna represents a two-part war epic that demands a long-term five-year commitment from the director. Rather than waiting through the ongoing multi-year development phase ahead of the planned August 2027 shoot, Mehra is using the interim period to execute a self-contained, smaller romantic narrative.
Simultaneously, the arrangement allows Excel Entertainment and the technical crew to proceed uninterrupted with extensive pre-production and casting activities required for the mythological production.
What to Watch Next
According to the source report, the immediate next step is the 30-day shoot of Mehra’s romantic feature with Vikrant Massey. Following that, focus will shift entirely to pre-production and final casting preparations for Karna leading up to its scheduled production start in August 2027.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is starring in Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra’s upcoming love story?
Vikrant Massey has been locked to play the lead role in the small-town romantic film.
What is the status of the film Karna?
Karna has been in development for five years under Excel Entertainment. It is planned as an ambitious two-part epic and is scheduled to go on floors in August 2027 with Salman Khan playing the title role.
Will work on Karna stop while the love story is filmed?
No. Excel Entertainment and a team of technicians will continue working on pre-production and casting for Karna while Mehra directs the 30-day film.
Source: Reported by Bollywood Hungama.