Are Alia Bhatt and Sanjay Leela Bhansali reuniting? 'Love & War' reveals the details of 'Inshallah'

Bollywood actor Alia Bhatt and filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali could be preparing for another collaboration, and this time, it may involve bringing back a film that was shelved years ago.

Bhatt and Bhansali previously worked together on Gangubai Kathiawadi and are currently reuniting for Love & War, which also stars Ranbir Kapoor and Vicky Kaushal. The film is scheduled to release in January 2027.

But Love & War may not be their only upcoming project.

According to a report by Mid-Day, Bhansali and Bhatt have started conversations about reviving Inshallah, the film they were originally supposed to make with Salman Khan. The project was announced in 2019 but was eventually shelved following reported creative differences between Salman and Bhansali.

Now, nearly seven years later, Inshallah could be getting another chance — although it may look very different from the film audiences were originally promised.

What is happening to ‘Inshallah’?

According to the report, Bhansali and Bhatt are discussing a reimagined version of the love story, with significant changes expected to the screenplay.

“It’s not being looked at as the same film that was announced years ago. The core story remains the same, but the material will be reworked and given a fresh spin," a source told the publication.

That means the reported revival may not simply be a continuation of the original project. Instead, Bhansali could be rebuilding the film around a substantially revised script.

The biggest unanswered question is who will play the male lead.

Earlier reports suggested Shah Rukh Khan could replace Salman Khan. However, the latest report indicates that Bhansali has not made a casting decision yet.

“No casting gets locked on a Bhansali film without the script being finalised. Salman is occupied with Raj-DK’s film while Shah Rukh hasn’t decided his next after ‘King’. It’s also possible that the story will seek a younger actor," the source said.

Why was the original film shelved?

Inshallah was one of the most anticipated Bollywood projects when it was announced in 2019, with Bhansali directing and Salman and Bhatt attached to star.

However, the project never made it to a full production after reported creative differences between Salman and Bhansali.

The scale of the preparation makes the film’s collapse even more striking.

Production designer Rupin Suchak revealed in a 2023 News18 interview that the team had spent months preparing the film. He said he worked with Bhansali for nine months and helped design 24 sets.

The team also spent about three months scouting locations in the United States.

Three sets had begun construction, with one already completed.

Then came the unexpected halt.

Suchak recalled that the production was called off shortly after Bhatt had filmed on one of the completed sets.

“The following day, we shot with Alia. The second set was almost complete and the shoot was supposed to happen three days after the complete shoot was called off," he said.

He also described the situation as a showdown that ultimately led to Salman walking away from the project.

Could ‘Love & War’ change everything?

Bhansali and Bhatt’s reunion on Love & War has now created a new opportunity for the filmmaker and actress to revisit their abandoned project.

Bhatt has already demonstrated that she can fit into Bhansali’s elaborate filmmaking style through Gangubai Kathiawadi, while Love & War will mark another major collaboration between the two.

For now, however, Inshallah remains a reported possibility rather than a formally announced production.

The script is reportedly being reworked first, and only after Bhansali is satisfied with the new version will casting decisions be made.

That leaves the biggest mystery unanswered: if Inshallah really returns after Love & War, who will stand opposite Alia Bhatt — and how much of the original film will actually remain?