Kartik Aaryan to star as a snake in “Naagzilla”

In Karan Johar’s next, Kartik Aaryan will play a ‘naag’ as a shape-shifting snake; netizens find the concept bizarre.

Karan Johar recently announced his next project, entering the fantasy world of a shape-shifting snake. He announced that the “Naagzilla” project will star Kartik Aaryan as the lead, playing a “naag.” However, netizens have given mixed reactions to the film’s poster.

Kartik Aaryan will play a snake in Karan Johar’s next.

Under Dharma Productions, Karan Johar announced his next project, Naagzilla, featuring Kartik Aaryan. It is announced to be released on August 14, 2026, and directed by Mrigadeep Singh Lamba of the Fukrey franchise. Karan Johar shared a motion poster of the film on Instagram. It shows Kartik Aaryan in a shirtless avatar, looking at a city from a snake-infested lair. He is seen wearing just a pair of blue jeans and has scaly, green, snake-like skin. The caption read, “Insanon wali picharein toh bahut dekh li, ab dekho naagon wali pichchar! #Naagzilla – Naag lok ka pehla kaand… Funnn phailaane aa raha hai – Preyamvadeshwar Pyare Chand… Naag Panchami par 🐍 aapke nazdeeki Sssssinemas mein – 14 August 2026 ko (Seen too many movies about humans? Now get ready for a movie about snakes! #Naagzilla – the first scandal from Naag Lok… Coming to spread some funnn – Preyamvadeshwar Pyare Chand! This Naag Panchami 🐍, slithering into your nearest Sssssinemas – on 14 August 2026!)!”

Reactions from social media users on Naagzilla motion poster.

Fans found the concept bizarre. Many got flashbacks to Ekta Kapoor’s hit TV show, Naagin. One user wrote, “The Ektafication of Dharma Productions. Such are the times!!” Another wrote, “@ektarkapoor ke pet pe laat (You are taking away Ekta Kapoor’s employment).” A third user wrote, “Noooo please… I miss your good movies era @karanjohar .. K2H2, K3G, KANK, Kapoor & Sons. Done with period drama and no sense movie.” One more commented, “Is this an April Fool’s joke.”