In a major development, director Ayan Mukerji has decided to step away from Dhoom 4, following the mixed reception of War 2.
According to a local media report, sources close to the project revealed that Ayan conveyed his reservations during a private discussion with Aditya Chopra, citing creative differences as the key reason.
“Ayan feels that films like War 2 and Dhoom 4 were never meant for him. He wants to focus on projects with broader scope, mixing romance, drama, spectacle, and deeper storytelling,” an insider told Bollywood Hungama.
The source explained that Ayan was mostly executing the existing script and screenplay by Shridhar Raghavan, leaving him little creative input.
“He does not want to embark on another project where he is just following what’s on paper. As a passionate filmmaker, he prefers to shape the story beyond the written material,” the insider added.
The decision came after multiple conversations with Aditya Chopra and Ranbir Kapoor, both of whom reportedly understood Ayan’s perspective.
The split was amicable, and Ayan has now shifted his full attention to Brahmastra 2, slated to go on floors in 2026. The writing is complete, with final polishing underway as he spends time in the Himalayas.
Meanwhile, Yash Raj Films is exploring other directorial options for Dhoom 4. “There is even talk that Aditya Chopra might direct the new Dhoom film himself, as Ranbir has already cleared his dates for the project,” the source revealed.