Ronnie Screwvala takes over Abhishek Kapoor's Kedarnath from KriArj Entertainment, T-Series, Balaji

The acrimony between KriArj Entertainment and Kedarnath director Abhishek Kapoor has ended in the most unexpected way after KriArj Entertainment and co-producers T-Series and Balaji Motion Pictures sold the rights of their film to former UTV head honcho Ronnie Screwvala.  

The former producers of Kedarnath are said to have been adequately reimbursed. This puts an end to all fears over the future of the film. Kedarnath will mark the debut of actor Saif Ali Khan’s daughter Sara Ali Khan. Kedarnath will also feature Sushant Singh Rajput in the lead role.

“Kedarnath is a great love story set against the backdrop of the powerful true-life event that affected us all during the floods in 2013. It completely matches my vision of great stories that need to be told and I can’t wait to bring this story to the audiences early next year,” Screwvala said in a statement.

Director Kapoor was a relieved man as his ambitious project can now restart soon. “I feel invigorated that he [Screwvala] has stepped in and reinforced his faith in me. Just being in the same room with Ronnie is a privilege, making a movie with him is an honour.”

Screwvala had earlier produced Kapoor’s Kai po che! (2013).

Kedarnath had hit rough weather after Kapoor and KriArj Entertainment had a falling-out. While the director had accused KriArj Entertainment of delay in payments, the production house had lashed out at the director for being unprofessional, and delaying the schedule of the film.  

A source had earlier told us that the budget of Kedarnath was pegged at Rs52 crore, that included Rs8 crore as fees of Kapoor.

With Screwvala taking over the project, the shoot of the film is expected to resume next month.

Kedarnath is a love story set in the backdrop of the 2013 floods in the state of Uttarakhand.