Karan Johar just introduced the "suitable boy" as Kartik Aaryan and Janhvi Kapoor's co-star in Dostana 2 - Lakshya. "Both happy and excited to introduce the new kid on the Dharma block! Lakshya will be making his debut with us in Dostana 2 and from thereon, we hope to start a solid cinematic journey together! Please welcome Lakshya and shower him with all your love and blessings," wrote KJo on Twitter and Instagram. Netizens on Instagram, who assumed that Lakshya must be a star kid, just had one query for Karan Johar, who is often criticised for nepotism - "Whose kid is he?" read a comment while another added: "Are you going to hide his last name so we don't know which star's kid he is?" More and more users dropped comments such as: "I wonder who daddy is", "Whose son is he but?" and "Kiska beta ha yeh?"
Karan Johar's response to inquisitive netizens arrived soon after Lakshya was introduced as the new Dharma hero. Thanking casting director Shanoo Sharma, KJo shared NDTV Movies' story to tweet: "Yes I woke up to several inquiries asking about his film industry connections! He is NOT from the business and went through a legit audition process! Am grateful to Shanoo Sharma for introducing Lakshya to Dharma Productions."
Yes I woke up to several inquiries asking about his film industry connections!!! He is NOT from the business and went through a legit audition process !! Am grateful to Shanoo Sharma for introducing LAKSHYA to @DharmaMovies https://t.co/47i6k0FSFe
— Karan Johar (@karanjohar) September 5, 2019
Now, while Dharma has indeed introduced Lakshya simply by his first name, several users pointed out that he could be the actor Lakshya Lalwani, who headlined Sony TV's historical drama Porus, which ran between 2017-2018.
Dharma Productions also introduced us to the official Instagram handle of Lakshya, whose newly-made profile describes him as a "dreamer". "Overwhelmed, grateful and down-right excited for this wonderful new beginning! Thank you for this welcome into the Dharma family, can't wait to get started on," wrote the actor. Lakshya's Instagram new Instagram page could also be an attempt to reinvent his identity as a Dharma hero instead of identifying him as a TV face.
Karan Johar confirmed 2/3rd of the Dostana 2 cast in June when Kartik Aaryan took over promotional duties to write: "Maa da laadla bigadne wala hai. Can't wait to take this franchise forward with my partners in crime Janhvi Kapoor Collin D'Cunha and the "suitable boy." Janhvi and Kartik will reportedly feature as a siblings in the movie, with Lakshya playing their common love interest.
Dharma Productions began the Dostana franchise in 2008 with Abhishek Bachchan, John Abraham and Priyanka Chopra. The rom-com had Abhishek and John pretending to be a gay couple to rent Priyanka's apartment. Eventually both Abhishek and John fall in love with Priyanka, who develops feelings for her boss Bobby Deol.
