The "Baseless Speculation" Row
While Boney Kapoor had previously gone on record to state that Varun and Arjun Kapoor were "very much part of the film," the narrative changed late last night:
The Exit: Insiders have revealed that the rumors linking Varun to the project are now "untrue and baseless."
The Reason: Varun is reportedly focusing his entire energy on the promotions of his upcoming romantic comedy, Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai (set to release on June 5, 2026).
The Aftermath: With Varun being the second lead to opt out after Diljit, the makers have reportedly decided to put the project on hold temporarily to rethink the entire casting strategy.
The Shahid Kapoor Rumors: Truth or Tactic?
As Varun’s exit made headlines, rumors immediately surfaced that Shahid Kapoor was being courted to fill the void:
The Vision: Reports suggested the makers wanted a "fresh pairing" and had approached Shahid for one of the three leads.
The Clarification: However, sources close to the O’Romeo actor told Filmfare that these claims are currently "unfounded." While Shahid has been briefed on the concept, he has not officially signed onto the project.
"A Fresh Start Again"
Producer Boney Kapoor had previously expressed his disappointment at not being able to retain the original 2005 cast, but he remained optimistic about "freshly packaging" the sequel for a younger audience. However, losing two-thirds of his "new" lead trio—especially after Varun’s massive success in the ₹1000-crore hit Border 2 earlier this year—is a significant commercial blow.
SantaBanta Verdict:
No Entry 2 is beginning to feel like a "cursed" production. While the script is reportedly "better than the original," the struggle to find three leads who can commit to the same schedule is proving nearly impossible. For Varun, moving away from a multi-starrer sequel to focus on his solo lead project, Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai, seems like a strategic play to protect his "₹1700-crore star" momentum.
