Bollywood heartthrob Hrithik Roshan is teaming up with "Agneepath" director Karan Malhotra for his next film titled "Shuddhi" (purification).
"Shuddhi" will bring back the successful trio of Hrithik, producer-director Karan Johar and Karan Malhotra after their smashing hit film "Agneepath," a remake of Amitabh Bachchan's action-drama film of the same name. Hrithik won accolades for his role as a fiery young man in the film.
The actor, who is currently busy with his home production "Krissh 3", will play one of the three main characters in Malhotra's film. The lead actress and villain are yet to be finalized. Some reports suggest that Katrina Kaif, who sizzled as "Chikni Chameli" in "Agneepath," will not be part of the film as she did not get along well with director Malhotra.
"Shuddhi" will reportedly be a dramatic-romantic movie that will be shot in Mumbai and Uttarakhand. The film will go on floors in November this year, and is slated for 2014 Diwali release. Confirming the news on twitter, Karan Johar tweeted: "Team Agneepath is back...@KaranMalhotra21 will direct his next with @iHrithik in a 2014 diwali release titled SHUDDHI(purification)."
This will be Karan Johar's second film to be released on Diwali occasion, after his debut film "Kuch Kuch Hota Hai" (KKHH) which was released on Diwali day in 1998. "KKHH", starring Shah Rukh Khan, Kajol and Rani Mukherjee, was a blockbuster movie. Johar hopes "Shuddhi" will also garner great response from film audiences.
Speaking about the film's releasing timing, Johar told the Times of India, "Diwali is also synonymous with films that entertain the entire family. Shuddhi is a love story that gives you everything that you look for in a festive release. I hope that we live up to the expectations that Agneepath has generated."
Besides "Krissh 3" and Shuddhi, Hrithik has also signed for Shekar Kapur's "Paani" and Siddharth Anand's "Knight & Day" remake.