Why did Shashank Khaitan dismiss the Alia Bhatt rumor?

Shashank Khaitan broke his silence on rumors of Alia Bhatt’s casting in Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari.

The Beginning of the Rumors

Janhvi Kapoor-Varun Dhawan’s Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari released in theaters today.

Before its release, there were reports that the film was first offered to Alia Bhatt.

These reports created a stir on social media, raising questions among fans—was Alia’s name really involved?

Shashank’s Counterattack

Closing industry reports, director Shashank Khaitan told Free Press Journal, “Alia was never offered this film.

Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari was written with this name and concept from the beginning.”

He clarified that Alia’s name only surfaced as a rumor.

Connection to Dulhania?

Shashank further stated that he, Varun, and Karan Johar had discussed various projects with Alia Bhatt several times, but this film was never part of the Dulhania franchise.

“We all knew Alia’s schedule was full for the next 2-3 years,” he said, dismissing the rumors as completely false.

Initial Box Office Reports

Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari grossed approximately ₹9.25 crore nett in India on its opening day.

According to Sacnilk, the evening showdown landscape saw good footfall.

While it didn’t have the grand opening of Kantara: Chapter 1, the collections were satisfactory considering the light-hearted comedy-rom-com’s vibe.

Footfall and Occupancy

The film’s occupancy on opening day averaged 32.45%.

• Chennai: 61%
• Bengaluru: 55.25%
• Kolkata: 48%

Mumbai, NCR, and Hyderabad delivered mid-level performances, while Surat, Bhopal, and Ahmedabad were somewhat subdued.

Kantara’s Kannada screenings, on the other hand, had 88.13% occupancy.

Story and Characters

Directed by Shashank Khaitan, this film tells the story of Sunny (Varun Dhawan) and Tulsi (Janhvi Kapoor).

Both want to win back their ex-partners, Ananya (Sanya Malhotra) and Vikram (Rohit Saraf), but their families insist on a new, arranged marriage.

Supporting cast members like Maniesh Paul, Akshay Oberoi, and Abhinav Sharma add a fun twist.

Why Watch This Rom-Com

The film evokes nostalgia and offers a light-hearted take on modern relationships.

Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari’s balance of adventure, humor, and emotion makes it a perfect weekend getaway.

Final Word

Casting rumors surrounding Alia Bhatt have now died down.

Shashank Khaitan clarified that Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari is the original story he wrote on paper.

Now it’s up to audiences to witness the box office realities for themselves—go to theaters.