Kriti Sanon had a disastrous 2023, with Shehzada, Adipurush, and Ganapath flopping badly at the box office one after another. However, it all changed this year as she witnessed consecutive success, both commercially and critically. The actress kicked off 2024 with hit robotic rom-com, Teri Baaton Mein Aisa Uljha Jiya and soon followed that up with yet another box office success, Crew, co-starring Tabu and Kareena Kapoor Khan. Then came her maiden film production, Do Patti on Netflix, which received critical acclaim for her double-role act. 

Looking ahead, Kriti has signed a two-film deal with Tanu Weds Manu director Aanand L Rai, which includes Tere Ishk Mein, a tragic love story with Dhanush, and a horror comedy, tentatively titled Nayi Naveli. While Aanand himself directs the Dhanush starrer, Peepingmoon.com has exclusively learned that Tamil filmmaker Balaji Mohan has been roped in to helm the horror comedy. Balaji is popularly known for directing Dhanush’s action comedy Maari and Maari 2, and will make his Hindi directorial debut with this Kriti Sanon starrer, produced under the Color Yellow Productions banner. 

The Tamil director was previously supposed to mark his maiden Bollywood debut with Junglee Pictures' Click Shankar, starring Saif Ali Khan in the role of a witty yet troubled inspector with hyperthymesia, a rare condition that enables him to remember every event of his life. However, the film was formally shelved following Saif’s exit due to script issues. Now, Balaji is finally set to call shots on his first Bollywood project, and he has already started preparing for it. 

Plot details of the film have been kept secret, but sources say it offers a fresh and innovative approach to the horror comedy genre. Kriti will headline the narrative, while the search is still on for the male lead, who will play an equally prominent role in the film. The shooting is expected to commence in mid-2025, as Kriti will get to this project only after finishing Aanand’s Tere Ishk Mein with Dhanush. Described as a tragic love story set in a similar world as Raanjhanaa, the film promises to captivate audiences with its complex storyline filled with romance and varied emotions. It's scheduled to go on floors in January 2025.