Suriya’s Bollywood debut 'Karna' reportedly shelved amid ‘Kanguva’ box office setback

Suriya’s highly anticipated Bollywood debut, Karna, a mythological drama directed by Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra, has reportedly been shelved. The project, touted as a grand two-part venture with a staggering budget of ₹350 crore, was set to feature Suriya as the legendary Karna and Janhvi Kapoor as Draupadi in her Tamil debut.

According to industry sources, the decision comes in the wake of the underwhelming box office performance of Suriya’s recent release, Kanguva. Despite its high production value and star-studded cast, including Bobby Deol and Disha Patani in their Tamil debuts, Kanguva has struggled to recover costs since its release on November 14, 2024. The film received mixed-to-negative reviews, casting doubts on the financial viability of another large-scale project.

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Fans, however, have reason to stay optimistic. Producer KE Gnanavel Raja recently confirmed a sequel to Kanguva, set to feature Suriya’s brother, Karthi, as the antagonist. Scheduled for release in 2026, the sequel aims to capitalize on the film’s ambitious universe, softening the blow of its predecessor's lukewarm reception.

Meanwhile, Suriya’s upcoming lineup includes Suriya 44, a romantic action film helmed by Karthik Subbaraj and co-starring Pooja Hegde, and Suriya 45, directed by RJ Balaji with music by AR Rahman.

While no official statement has been made regarding Karna's cancellation, the news has stirred disappointment among fans, who hoped the project would mark a landmark pan-Indian release. For now, all eyes are on Suriya’s next moves.