Kartik Aaryan kicks off Naagzilla as Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 completes a year

Even a year after its grand Diwali release on November 1, 2024, Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 continues to stand as a defining milestone in Kartik Aaryan’s career - a blockbuster, star-packed horror-comedy that not only strengthened his box-office dominance but also broadened the legacy of the beloved franchise. As the film’s anniversary celebrations unfold, Kartik has now embarked on his next big venture, Naagzilla, an ambitious, high-concept fantasy-comedy backed by major production houses and envisioned as a lavish, franchise-oriented cinematic spectacle.

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From Spooky Laughs to Scale

On Saturday, Kartik Aaryan shared a picture of himself holding the clapboard of Naagzilla, with a smiling face. The caption for the post read, "1 year of #BhoolBhulaiyaa3, Day 1 of #Naagzilla." (sic)

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Fans have flooded the comments section expressing their excitement.

According to earlier reports, Koki finished the poster shoot and that principal photography is slated to begin around early November, with the film positioned as a large-scale August 14, 2026 release to target a festive weekend. Early coverage highlights director Mrighdeep Singh Lamba at the helm and suggests Kartik will play an ichchadhari (shape-shifting) serpent - a tonal leap from Bhool Bhulaiyaa’s comic horror to family-friendly fantasy.

Naagzilla A Trilogy?

Naagzilla signals a deliberate move into genre cinema and franchise building. Producers appear intent on launching a trilogy with Kartik as the recurring supernatural hero.

For the audience, it’s an invitation to see the actor in a more physically demanding, effects-heavy avatar, and for industry watchers, proof that makers are wagering big on Koki's mass appeal post-Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3. 

The Anees Bazmee-directed film opened to strong numbers and emerged among 2024’s top Hindi earners, helping cement Kartik’s transition from rom-com favourite to a more versatile leading man.

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Kartik Aaryan's Upcoming Projects

Beyond Naagzilla, Kartik’s slate includes projects that span biopics, sports dramas and a high-profile Diwali release with director Anurag Basu. The yet-to-be-titled flick stars Sreeleela in the lead.