Production on hold? 

Uh oh! It appears that Sajid Nadiadwala’s Sanki with Ahan Shetty and Pooja Hegde is unlikely to arrive on 2025 Valentine’s weekend. In March, the producer had announced the romantic thriller, to be helmed by Adnan Shaikh and Yasir Jah. The film was slated to go on floors last month, but production was delayed for reasons best known to the makers. Now, rumours are rife that the filmmaker is having second thoughts about going ahead with the movie. Apparently, Sajid wasn’t too pleased to see that his production house was being billed for the expenses of his lead actor’s entourage, comprising a driver, spotboy, stylist, hair and make-up artist, trainer and chef. Even though the filmmaker is said to have locked the deals for the digital rights of his films, he feels the high cost of Ahan’s huge staff isn’t justifiable. More so because he is backing the young actor the second time after his debut, Tadap (2021), which also he produced, didn’t fare as well at the box-office. As a result, Sajid is said to have called for a halt on the production. Reportedly, Ahan’s actor-father Suniel Shetty, called upon his filmmaker-friend to resolve the stalemate. Sources claim that while the producer will eventually agree to his actor-buddy’s request, the film’s budget will be downsized and Ahan won’t get the superstar treatment he thinks he deserves.

On a hit wicket