Kartik Aaryan’s Naagzilla pushed back — makers want more time for VFX and finishing touches
Kartik Aaryan’s 2026 calendar was shaping up to be a busy one, with two promising films on the horizon. One of them, the much-touted fantasy comedy Naagzilla — in which Kartik plays a shape-shifting nag — has now been moved off its original August 14 slot as the team decides to take extra time on shoot and post-production.
Why the delay?
Insiders say the film is still being shot and needs several more months to wrap. Because Naagzilla relies heavily on complex visual effects, the makers are reluctant to rush the VFX and finishing work. “They are aware that they have a special film in hand and want to nurture and fine-tune it properly before presenting it to the audience,” a source told Bollywood Hungama.
The team — including Kartik himself — apparently prefers patience over haste, choosing to polish the film rather than meet the earlier Independence Day weekend plan. The new release date will be announced once the producers lock it in.
Who’s behind Naagzilla?
- Director: Mrighdeep Singh Lamba (known for Fukrey)
- Producers: Karan Johar’s Dharma Productions and Mahaveer Jain Films (Mahaveer Jain)
- Genre: Comic caper with fantasy elements — Kartik as a shape-shifting snake
This collaboration marks several firsts: Kartik’s first film with Mahaveer Jain, Mahaveer Jain’s first with Karan Johar, and Kartik’s second association with KJo after their earlier project Tu Meri Main Tera Main Tera.
What this means for the August 14 slot
Naagzilla had originally blocked the lucrative Independence Day weekend — a coveted release window for big, mass-appeal films. Industry watchers are now curious which film, if any, will step into the vacated slot once Naagzilla officially gives it up.
A trade expert pointed out that Naagzilla was the only title holding that date, so its shift opens up a prime opportunity for another studio to claim the weekend. The trade will be watching release calendars closely in the coming weeks.
Kartik’s other 2026 project: Anurag Basu’s untitled musical
Adding to the buzz around Kartik’s 2026 slate is Anurag Basu’s untitled musical, which co-stars Sreeleela. That film too doesn’t have an official release date yet. Trade sources say both Naagzilla and the Basu musical are important for Kartik’s positioning — especially for reaching mass centres where larger-than-life entertainers thrive.
With two very different films — a VFX-heavy fantasy comedy and a musical love story — Kartik is aiming for variety and wider reach in 2026. The release strategy for both will be crucial, and insiders hope dates will be announced soon so distributors and exhibitors can plan.
Industry reaction
Experts appear generally supportive of the decision to delay Naagzilla, noting that VFX-heavy films often benefit from extra post-production time. There’s also commercial logic: an Independence Day release can deliver big numbers, but only if the film is visually and narratively ready to meet audience expectations.
For now, fans will have to wait for an official date. Meanwhile, speculation will grow over who might claim the open August 14 weekend and how Kartik’s two 2026 releases will shape his box-office trajectory.