Hrithik out of Karan Johar's Shuddhi

Mumbai: Hrithik Roshan is opting out of Karan Johar's upcoming film 'Shuddhi', saying he does not want to delay the project.

The film was slated to reunite Roshan with his 'Agneepath' director Karan Malhotra and his former co-star Kareena Kapoor but the actor's health and subsequent separation from wife Sussanne kept delaying the project.

"Karan Malhotra (director) and I have decided to unite in the most ambitious way post-Shuddhi. For now I cannot allow a vision like Shuddhi to stagnate any further. I had the finest experience an actor can have working with Karan Malhotra in 'Agneepath'," Hrithik said in a statement here.

"I'm sure both my dear Karans (director Malhotra and producer Johar) are going to go beyond with this one. Shuddhi remains a part of me in spirit and I am sure it will be a landmark in our cinema. I wish them all the best," he said.

There is a buzz that Kareena would also not be a part of the film, mainly due to date issues, as the film got postponed due to Hrithik's health. There are reports that Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukone might replace Hrithik and Kareena.