Throwback to the Karan Johar-Kartik Aaryan feud: What really happened?

Renowned filmmaker Karan Johar and the rising star of Indian cinema, Kartik Aaryan, made news in 2021 for their alleged feud, which was around the film 'Dostana 2,' a sequel to the successful 'Dostana' released in 2008.
'Dostana 2' was announced with much fanfare, featuring Kartik Aaryan alongside Janhvi Kapoor and Laksh Lalwani. The project was set to be directed by Collin D'Cunha under the banner of Dharma Productions. However, things took a turn when Dharma Productions announced on April 16, 2021, that they would be recasting the film due to "professional circumstances," without elaborating further. This sudden decision sparked rumors of a rift between Karan Johar and Kartik Aaryan.
The exact reasons behind the feud were never explicitly stated by either party, but rumors suggested creative differences and professional disagreements. There were also speculations about Kartik Aaryan's behavior on set and his alleged unprofessionalism. However, Kartik has consistently maintained that he focuses solely on his work and prefers not to engage in controversies.
During an interview with Lallantop, the 'Chandu Champion' actor said, "I was silent when the news came about, and I choose to stay silent even now. I am 100% focused on my work, and when controversies of such nature happen, I stay calm about them. I don’t get involved a lot in them, and I don’t have to prove anything to anyone by getting involved."
The fallout from 'Dostana 2' led to a significant pause in Kartik Aaryan's collaboration with Dharma Productions. Despite this, Kartik continued to rise in his career, starring in films like 'Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2' and 'Shehzada.'. Karan Johar, on the other hand, continued to produce and direct several projects.
In 2023, Karan Johar and Kartik Aaryan were spotted together at the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne. The duo, dressed in classy black fits, created a heavy buzz. This public appearance marked a turning point in their relationship, as they seemed to have put their differences aside.

Later, Dharma Productions announced a new film featuring Kartik Aaryan, directed by Sandeep Modi, on his birthday in November 2023. The film is announced to release on 15th August 2025.
The 'Kuch Kuch Hota Hai' director also shared his birthday wishes and wrote, "Kartik, happy birthday to you… May our collaboration only grow from strength to strength from here on and never cease to create magic on the big screen."

Recently, they collaborated for the 25th edition of the International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) Awards, where they co-hosted the event. During rehearsals, they engaged in a fun banter, playfully arguing over who is the real "royalty" of Indian cinema.
In a clip shared by Kartik on his social media, Karan Johar declared himself the "emperor of Bollywood," to which Kartik humorously replied that he is the "prince of Indian cinema." The exchange continued with Kartik joking about Karan's recent weight loss, saying it seemed like someone had sent Karan, and Johar was yet to arrive. Karan also took a lighthearted jab at Kartik's 2023 film 'Shehzada,' calling him 'Mr. Kaizada,' but Kartik retorted that jokes should be made about Shehzada, to which Karan quipped that nothing can be made of it. Kartik wrote, "K vs K," in the caption.