Laapataa Ladies duo Pratibha Ranta-Nitanshi Goel bag Dostana 2 and Sajid Khan’s comeback film

The Laapataa Ladies duo, Pratibha Ranta and Nitanshi Goel, seem to be charting promising paths in Bollywood after the film’s success. Both actors, who earned praise for their authentic performances, have now landed notable projects in two very different corners of the industry.

According to recent media reports, Pratibha Ranta has been finalised to play the female lead in Dostana 2. The project was originally announced with Janhvi Kapoor, Kartik Aaryan, and Lakshya. However, after Kartik’s exit, the script underwent changes. Vikrant Massey has now confirmed his involvement, with Lakshya still attached to the film. The role Janhvi was initially set to play will now reportedly be essayed by Pratibha.

Dostana 2 is said to be a spiritual sequel to the 2008 romantic comedy Dostana, which starred Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Abhishek Bachchan, and John Abraham. The upcoming version is expected to explore a fresh storyline while maintaining the franchise’s humorous and emotional tone. Pratibha’s inclusion signals an interesting turn for her, moving from a socially grounded role in Laapataa Ladies to a more glamorous, big-banner project.

Meanwhile, Pratibha’s co-star Nitanshi Goel is also making a move toward mainstream cinema. As per a report by Mid-Day, she has been cast opposite Yashvardan Ahuja—Govinda’s son—in his Bollywood debut. The film will be directed by Sajid Khan, marking his return to filmmaking after nearly seven years. The project is said to also feature South actor Krithi Shetty in a pivotal role.

Sajid Khan had stepped away from direction following allegations of sexual harassment during the MeToo movement. The Indian Film and Television Directors’ Association had imposed a temporary ban on him, later revoked a year later. A source quoted in the report shared that Sajid has been approached by a studio to helm this new film. “The studio heads are keen to have him direct, as the script’s comedy elements align with his expertise,” the insider said.

With both Pratibha and Nitanshi securing major projects, the Laapataa Ladies stars appear to be steadily transitioning from indie acclaim to mainstream recognition.