Kartik Aaryan is stepping behind the camera. The actor has locked June 18, 2027, for his next theatrical outing, Ladaku, reteaming with filmmaker Kabir Khan for a gritty human drama. But this time, Aaryan is putting his own money on the table. The film marks his official debut as a producer under his newly minted banner, Dopamine Studios.
Co-produced by Ananya Birla's Birla Studios alongside Kabir Khan Entertainment, Ladaku centers on an extraordinary true story rooted in raw ambition, grit, and redemption. The producers are keeping tight operational secrecy around specific plot mechanics. Yet they describe the project as an emotional, heart-forward family entertainer—channeling the same crowd-pleasing, high-stakes emotional architecture Khan perfected in Bajrangi Bhaijaan and 83.
The creative reunion was inevitable. Khan and Aaryan struck critical gold with their biographical sports drama Chandu Champion, a grueling physical transformation that earned Aaryan the National Film Award for his portrayal of India's pioneering Paralympic gold medalist, Murlikant Petkar. That gamble recalibrated Aaryan's career. It proved the actor could carry solemn historical drama without his trademark monologue swagger. Now, Ladaku aims to push that dramatic partnership into richer territory.
Aaryan is not pacing himself. The actor has assembled one of the most aggressive project rosters in Mumbai, mounting an expansive lineup heading into 2027. He is currently shooting Captain India, an aviation thriller helmed by Chak De! India director Shimit Amin. That project—backed jointly by Bhushan Kumar's T-Series, Baweja Studios, and Aaryan's Dopamine Studios—dramatizes the historic 2015 Operation Raahat rescue mission in Yemen.
Amin kicked off principal photography on Captain India in September after navigating a prolonged pre-production haul. A handwritten note from Amin, later shared by Aaryan, thanked the core crew for anchoring the film through logistical delays and brutal prep work.
The actor's 2027 calendar is rapidly filling up. Before Ladaku lands in cinemas midway through the year, Aaryan will headline the fantasy tentpole Naagzilla in February 2027. He also has an untitled feature with director Anurag Basu slated for rollout next year, alongside Vivek Agnihotri's announced drama Operation Sindoor. With Ladaku now locked for its mid-summer window, Aaryan's transition from bankable romantic lead to full-scale producer-actor powerhouse is officially underway.