Filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali recently opened up about one of the most challenging moments in his collaboration with Alia Bhatt. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter India, Bhansali revealed the emotional rollercoaster Alia went through when their much-anticipated film Inshallah was shelved—and how she transformed that disappointment into a career-defining performance in Gangubai Kathiawadi.
Bhansali didn’t hold back when recounting Alia’s initial reaction. “I was doing Inshallah with her, and then suddenly, it got shelved. She broke down, cracked up, cried, raved, ranted, and locked herself in a room,” Bhansali said, describing how devastated the actor was when the project fell through. Inshallah was meant to be a starry affair, pairing Alia with Salman Khan for the first time, and expectations were sky-high. So when the film was abruptly scrapped, it’s no surprise that Alia was heartbroken.
But every dark cloud has a silver lining—or in this case, a white sari. Just a week later, Bhansali called Alia with a new opportunity: the lead role in Gangubai Kathiawadi. The announcement came as a shock to Alia, who was still recovering from the Inshallah fallout. “She said, ‘From Los Angeles, where I was supposed to be playing the character (in Inshallah), I have come to Kamathipura. How do I do it? I don’t know this character,’” Bhansali recalled.
But Bhansali, a master at shaping powerful female characters, was confident that Alia had what it took to bring Gangubai to life. “I said, ‘Do you trust me, and do you know me?’ Then I’ll tap into that strong woman in you because I can see it in your eyes. I can see how strong, how convinced you are of certain things that you do. I’ve understood your personality,’” he shared.
Alia’s portrayal of Gangubai, a real-life brothel madam who rose to power in Mumbai’s underworld, became one of the most critically acclaimed performances of her career.
The duo is set to reunite for their upcoming film Love and War, which also stars Ranbir Kapoor and Vicky Kaushal. The film, expected to go on floors soon, is slated for a March 20, 2026 release. Given Bhansali’s knack for grandeur and drama, combined with Alia’s proven ability to bring complex characters to life, expectations are already high for this next venture.
