'Heeramandi' director Mitakshara Kumar to helm new film that will be 'bold reinvention' of Kangana Ranaut and R Madhavan's 'Tanu Weds Manu' franchise - Reports

The much loved franchise of ‘Tanu Weds Manu’ is officially expanding. Filmmaker Mitakshara Kumar, who recently gained widespread recognition as an episodic director on Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s ‘Heeramandi,’ is set to direct a brand-new film inspired by the iconic Aanand L Rai franchise. The film is expected to go on floors early next year in London.

A bold reinvention of the franchise

According to the press release announcing the project, the film will be a “bold reinvention” of the Tanu Weds Manu world. While it moves away from the Kanpur setting that anchored the original films, the new story aims to retain the irreverence, unpredictability and emotional charge that defined the earlier installments. This time, however, the narrative unfolds across an expansive international backdrop, giving the iconic rom-com universe a fresh canvas.


Sharing her creative vision, Mitakshara Kumar said, “My vision is to create a film that feels familiar in spirit but thrillingly fresh in its storytelling — a story of love and identity that travels across borders, because the chaos of the heart is universal.”


The director, known for her nuanced handling of character-driven narratives, aims to preserve the essence of the franchise while giving it a renewed, contemporary identity.

Honoring a legacy that redefined Bollywood romance

Reflecting on the responsibility of taking the franchise forward, Ridhima Lulla said, “Tanu and Manu belong to the audience forever. Their story didn’t just entertain, it created a cultural phenomenon in Indian cinema. Our responsibility now is to honour that legacy by doing what this universe has always done best: break rules, push boundaries, and redefine love with unapologetic honesty.”

A look back at the unforgettable originals

The first film, ‘Tanu Weds Manu’ (2011), followed Manu, an NRI doctor played by R. Madhavan, who falls in love with the spirited and rebellious Tanu, played by Kangana Ranaut. Meanwhile, the 2015 sequel, ‘Tanu Weds Manu Returns,’ took the story further with their marriage struggles and introduced Tanu’s Haryanvi lookalike, Kusum, also portrayed by Kangana.

Both films were critically acclaimed and became blockbuster hits, cementing their place as modern classics in the rom-com genre. As Mitakshara Kumar prepares to take the franchise global, excitement is building around how she will reimagine the beloved world while preserving its heart.


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