Is Karan Johar repaying debt to Telugu actor?

Early reports suggest that Karan Johar has bought the theatrical release rights of 'Ghazi' by paying a fancy price.  For the uninitiated, this one is a submarine-based war film starring Rana Daggubati, Tapsee Pannu and Kay Kay Menon in lead roles.  A Hindi-Telugu bilingual, it's based on 'Blue Fish', a book written by the director (Sankalp Reddy) himself.  The film is based on the sinking of a Pakistani submarine in 1971 war and is an underwater war film and India's first submarine-based war film.  Based on the real-life incidents related to the unexplained sinking of PNS Ghazi, the film has Tapsee Pannu (the success of 'Pink' makes her all the more important) playing a refugee.

The relationship between Johar and Rana goes back to many years.  It was Rana who brokered the gargantuan 'Baahubali' deal between Dharma Productions and SS Rajamouli's producers.  Rana reportedly took the initiative of helping the stakeholders clinch a deal for both the editions of the magnum opus.  In the event, 'The Beginning' became a run-away hit and fetched good profits for Johar.

Looks like the celebrated director (who waits the release of 'Ae Dil Hai Mushkil') is repaying the debt to Rana by acquiring 'Ghazi' at a fancy price.