Kartik Aaryan, who will appear in Aashiqui 3, said he ‘grew up watching’ the original movie

Actor Kartik Aaryan, who will headline Aashiqui 3, has called 'the timeless classic Aashiqui' something he grew up watching. Anurag Basu will direct the third installment of the hit franchise Aashiqui. The female actor has not been announced yet. In a new interview, Kartik called himself a big fan of Anurag.

Aashiqui (1990), backed by T-Series and Vishesh Films, was helmed by Mahesh Bhatt. Rahul Roy and Anu Aggarwal played the lead roles. The franchise was revived in 2013 with Aashiqui 2, directed by Mohit Suri and starring Shraddha Kapoor and Aditya Roy Kapur. It was also a box office success.

In an interview, Kartik said, “The timeless classic Aashiqui is something I grew up watching, and working on Aashiqui 3 is like a dream come true. I feel privileged yet grateful for collaborating with Bhushan Kumar and Mukesh Bhatt for this opportunity. I’ve been a big fan of Anurag Basu’s work, and collaborating with him on this one will shape me in many ways.”

Anurag also spoke about the upcoming project, "Aashiqui and Aashiqui 2 were emotions for the fans that have remained in hearts till date; the aim is to carry the legacy ahead in the best possible way. It’d be my first venture with Kartik Aaryan, who is known for his hard work, dedication, grit, and determination towards his work, and I’m truly looking forward to this one.”

Taking to Instagram, Kartik also shared a group photo on Monday. The image featured Kartik and Anurag, music composer Pritam, Mukesh Bhatt, and Bhushan Kumar. He captioned the post, "Team 'A' (red heart and multiple musical notes emojis). #AnuragBasu #Pritam #BhushanKumar #MukeshBhatt."

The last movie that fans saw Kartik in was Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2, which made over 200 crores at the box office. The movie, directed by Anees Bazmee, also features Tabu and Kiara Advani in key roles. His next appearance will be in Kriti Sanon and Rohit Dhawan's Shehzada, set for release on February 10, 2023.

Along with Kiara Advani, he also has Sajid Nadiadwala's Satyaprem Ki Katha, which will be released on June 29, 2023. Alongside Alaya F, Kartik will appear in Freddy. The Ekta Kapoor-produced movie is marketed as a romantic thriller. Captain India by Hansal Mehta is another project he is working on.

Kartik and Kiara began shooting for Satyaprem Ki Katha last week. Kartik posted a picture of himself on Instagram with the caption, "Shubhaarambh #SatyapremKiKatha Ganpati Bappa Moriya." The director of the film is Sameer Vidwans.