Salman Khan is reportedly locked to play Karna in Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra’s two-part Mahabharata epic

New Delhi: Salman Khan could be heading into one of the most ambitious roles of his career. According to reports, the actor has been locked to play Karna in filmmaker Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra’s planned two-part Mahabharata epic, backed by Excel Entertainment.

The project has been in development for several years and has undergone multiple changes before reaching its current stage.celebrations at his brother Sohail Khan’s home on September

Salman Khan steps into the role of Karna

The latest buzz around Karna is much stronger than the reports that first surfaced in June 2026. At that time, reports said Salman had heard Mehra’s narration and was in advanced discussions for the project. By late August, trade reports were describing the actor as being on board, with Bollywood Hungama reporting that Mehra was preparing the film with Salman in the titular role.

A report Says, citing Filmfare, has now added to the confirmation around Salman’s casting. However, there is still an important distinction: Salman Khan, Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra and Excel Entertainment have not issued a formal announcement about the film or the casting. So, for now, the Karna casting remains strong trade reporting rather than an official studio announcement.

The reported film is being planned as a two-part war epic. If it goes ahead as currently reported, it will also mark Salman’s first collaboration with Mehra and Excel Entertainment.

Why Karna is such a difficult character to play

For readers unfamiliar with the Mahabharata, Karna is one of its most complicated central characters.

He was born to Kunti before her marriage and was abandoned by her as an infant. He was later raised by a charioteer family and grew up away from his royal origins. His life changed when Duryodhana, the Kaurava prince, gave him recognition and made him the king of Anga.

That friendship became one of the defining relationships of Karna’s life. He remained loyal to Duryodhana and fought on the Kaurava side during the Kurukshetra war, even after learning more about his own birth and his connection to the Pandavas.

That makes Karna more than a straightforward warrior character. His story involves questions of loyalty, identity, friendship, family and duty. His loyalty to Duryodhana also places him on the side that ultimately loses the war. That emotional conflict is one reason filmmakers have repeatedly been drawn to his story.

The team behind the film: Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra and Excel Entertainment

Mehra comes to the project with a filmography that includes Rang De Basanti, Delhi-6, Bhaag Milkha Bhaag, Mirzya and Toofaan. His films have often moved between personal stories and larger social or historical subjects.

Excel Entertainment, founded by Farhan Akhtar and Ritesh Sidhwani, is backing the reported Karna project. The production house has been associated with films across different genres, and this project would take the company into a large-scale mythological war story.

The combination of Mehra, Excel and Salman gives the project a distinctly different shape from the early versions that were discussed years ago.

Five years in development: the earlier versions that never took off

Karna is not a new idea in Bollywood. The project has reportedly been in development for around five years, with Mehra spending considerable time working on the concept and pre-production.

Earlier reports had linked Tamil star Suriya to the project, which was expected to serve as his Bollywood debut. That version eventually stalled during pre-production, with reports pointing to budget-related difficulties.

The project resurfaced in June 2026 when reports began connecting Salman with Mehra’s period drama. At first, the reports described it more cautiously as a large-scale historical or period film. The Karna connection became clearer as more trade reports emerged.

When does shooting actually start?

There is still some movement around the schedule, but current trade reports point to 2027.

A Source reported in August that the makers were aiming to begin Karna around August 2027, while casting and pre-production continue. Mehra is also reportedly planning to direct a shorter small-town love story with Vikrant Massey before moving fully into the larger epic.

That means Karna is still some distance away from the cameras rolling. A formal announcement could also bring more clarity on the final cast, production timeline and other details.

What else Salman has lined up

Salman already has a packed schedule before Karna.

Salman is currently associated with Monster, an action entertainer directed by Vamshi Paidipally and produced by Dil Raju. Nayanthara is also part of the film, which is scheduled for an Eid 2027 release. The project was earlier known as SVC63.

After Monster, Salman is also expected to collaborate with Raj & DK on a superhero comedy. Reports from August suggested that the project was being planned around his existing commitments.

For now, television remains part of his routine as well. Salman is hosting Bigg Boss 20, which premiered in September 2026.

Ganpati Visarjan at Sohail Khan’s home

Away from the film buzz, Salman spent September 15 with family during Ganpati Visarjan at Sohail Khan’s residence in Mumbai.

Videos from the gathering showed Salman participating in the aarti. One light-hearted moment came when Arpita Khan noticed that he was circling the aarti in the wrong direction and corrected him. The clip quickly became a talking point online.

Salman was also seen joking with Varun Sharma about making a wish during the celebrations. Iulia Vantur joined the family gathering and took part in the aarti as well. Photos and videos from the event captured the festive atmosphere at Sohail’s home.

The celebration also fits into a long-running Khan family tradition. Salman has regularly been seen participating in Ganpati festivities and visarjan with his family over the years.

What this year means for Salman Khan

Professionally, 2026 has placed Salman at the centre of several very different projects. He is balancing television with a major action film, a reported superhero comedy and now a long-gestating mythological epic that could take years of preparation.

Karna is still waiting for an official announcement, but the latest trade reports have moved the conversation from “Is Salman considering it?” to “When will the film finally go on floors?” For an actor whose upcoming slate already stretches well into 2027, that makes the next few months particularly interesting.

For now, though, the superstar’s immediate story is split between a massive film in the making and a much more familiar scene: Salman celebrating Ganpati with his family.