When announces a film, we expect grandeur and opulence and everything over the top. His films are known for their grand sets, larger than life storytelling and uncompromising creative vision.
However, as per the latest reports, his upcoming period drama has hit turbulent waters. The romantic period saga has now turned into one of the most expensive and prolonged productions of his career. With extended shooting schedules, a ballooning budget and shifting release timelines, we can’t help but wonder what exactly went wrong, and whether the gamble will ultimately pay off.
SLB’s Love & War faces delays
Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Love & War is nowhere close to the finish line, as per a Variety India report. The ambitious period romance, starring Ranbir Kapoor, Vicky Kaushal and Alia Bhatt, has reportedly undergone a significant schedule extension. Initially projected to wrap in 120 days, the film has already completed nearly 175 days of shooting. Yet, three elaborate songs and a crucial dramatic sequence remain pending, pushing the production timeline ahead by another 50 days.
Mounted on an epic scale, the film’s war sequences are believed to have taken far longer than anyone expected. Bhansali is said to be meticulously crafting every frame, refusing to compromise on scale or aesthetics. While that perfectionism has defined his legacy, it has also led to repeated delays.
Budget gets big and bigger
The impact is clearly visible in the numbers. Originally budgeted at Rs 350 crore, the film’s production cost has now surged to approximately Rs 425 crore, excluding the remuneration of its leading stars, as per the same Variety India report. Kapoor, Kaushal and Bhatt have reportedly opted for backend profit-sharing arrangements instead of upfront fees, tying their earnings to the final theatrical performance.
Bhansali has largely self-financed the project, with Saregama India stepping in at a later stage. Despite the escalating costs, the filmmaker has managed to secure substantial pre-release recoveries, which will definitely help the film’s cause. Netflix has reportedly acquired the post-theatrical streaming rights for around Rs 130 crore, while music and satellite rights have brought in an additional Rs 70-80 crore. In total, over Rs 200 crore has already been recovered from non-theatrical avenues.
Love & War’s uphill battle
However, can a film that is being perceived as a love triangle and period love story recover the remaining money? With Indian movie audience becoming extremely unpredictable post-COVID, no film is a sure shot hit. Looks like the makers will have to come up with a great marketing strategy (which will again increase the budget) to make sure the film at least guarantees a huge opening. It does help that it has 3 very popular Bollywood faces.
Described as a period romance set against the backdrop of war, Love & War revolves around a dramatic rivalry between Kapoor and Kaushal’s characters over the same woman, played by Bhatt. While speculation linked the narrative to Raj Kapoor’s 1964 classic Sangam, Bhansali has firmly denied any such inspiration.
Now targeting an early 2027 theatrical release, Love & War is one of the most ambitious projects of Bhansali’s career. Whether the director’s trademark grandeur will once again justify the gamble is a question only time and the box office can answer.