- By Sidhi Agarwall
- Tue, 02 Sep 2025 02:02 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Chaalbaaz Remake: The remake of late actor Sridevi’s 1989 classic Chaalbaaz is back in the spotlight, but not for the reasons the makers would have hoped. Initially announced in 2021 as Chaalbaaz in London with Shraddha Kapoor in the lead role, the project has reportedly undergone a major change. Janhvi Kapoor has now stepped in to replace Shraddha, sparking heated reactions online. Fans have taken to Reddit to voice their disappointment, with many suggesting that actor Sanya Malhotra would be a far better fit for the role. The 1989 Chaalbaaz, directed by Pankaj Parashar, was written by Rajesh Mazumdar and Kamlesh Pandey. It starred Sridevi in a dual role alongside Sunny Deol and Rajinikanth.
According to a report in Bollywood Hungama, “For Janhvi, Chaalbaaz is a lot more than just a film. It’s an emotion. She has jumped onto the chance of playing the lead role in Chaalbaaz, but is treading this with utmost caution. She is taking opinions from people around for the Chaalbaaz remake. She is excited, but is also wary of all the comparisons. She is expected to take a call on the Chaalbaaz remake by the end of September.” Fans on Reddit reacted strongly against the news of Janhvi’s casting. Many questioned her acting abilities and criticised her track record at the box office. One person posted, “Why is she getting movies even though all her previous films flopped?” Someone else added, “How many movies do we have to suffer until Janhvi shows mercy on us and quits acting? She doesn’t know an ounce of acting. Please don’t ruin it.” Another Redditor said, “No, take Sanya Malhotra, please.” A different fan argued, “Sanya Malhotra will it the bill perfectly.”
RUMOUR: A remake of Chaalbaaz is in development, with Janhvi Kapoor being considered for the lead role
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Meanwhile, back in 2021, Pankaj Parashar, who directed the original, re-shared T-Series’ announcement post: “We’re so glad to announce that the gorgeous Shraddha Kapoor will be starring in our next film, Chaalbaaz in London! Directed by Pankaj Parashar and produced by Bhushan Kumar, Krishan Kumar, Ahmed Khan and Shaira Khan. #ChaalbaazInLondon.” However, by 2022, the project shifted direction. India Today reported, “The makers had announced the project with Shraddha Kapoor. However, due to the postponement of the film, her dates are not available for next year. The filmmakers are now keen to cast Janhvi Kapoor for the role. They have approached the young actress for Chaalbaaz in London.”
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On the other hand, in December last year, Pankaj Parashar explained why Shraddha was no longer attached to the film. He told Siddharth Kannan, “We were writing the script and somewhere there was some hesitancy in matching that.” He clarified that Shraddha was enthusiastic about the project, but the script did not reach the required stage. Parashar revealed that filmmaker David Dhawan had even advised him to reconsider the remake. He said he had started working on a different version of the script, not a direct recreation of the 1989 classic. “We stopped writing the script after a point of time, adding that he will make Chaalbaaz in London,” he added. Importantly, he also confirmed that Shraddha was not upset about his decision.
Janhvi And Shraddha’s Current Projects
Janhvi Kapoor was last seen in Tushar Jalota’s Param Sundari opposite Sidharth Malhotra. She will next appear with Varun Dhawan in Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari, which is scheduled for release on October 2. Shraddha Kapoor, meanwhile, returned with Stree 2 alongside Rajkummar Rao. The makers of the horror-comedy franchise have already announced Stree 3, directed by Amar Kaushik, which is expected to release in 2027.
