A few years back, Alia Bhatt and Salman Khan would come together in one of the most awaited films of Sanjay Leela Bhansali, Inshallah. The news spread like fire, and everyone was thrilled to see these two powerhouses of Bollywood together.
However, much to the fans’ disappointment, the film was axed, and this news sent shockwaves among the audiences. The shock was not only felt by the fans, but Bhansali also shared that Bhatt was taken aback by the sudden axing of the film to the extent that she locked herself up in her room.
Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter India, Bhansali spoke about the emotional impact of the Inshallah cancellation on Bhatt. Detailing how he operates and gets down to the raw meat of his actors, Bhansali spoke of Bhatt’s upset when he scrapped the film. “She broke down, cracked up, cried, raved, ranted, and locked herself in a room,” Bhansali recalls.
A week later, a life-changing call came for Bhatt. Bhansali called her to essay the titular role in his magnum opus Gangubai Kathiawadi. Reluctant to take up such a layered character, Bhatt made her inhibitions known. “From LA, where I was supposed to play the character in Inshallah, I suddenly found myself in Kamathipura. I didn’t know if I could do it,” she told Bhansali. Under his mentorship, however, Bhatt slowly metamorphosed into the defiant and resilient Gangubai.
When she finally entered the role, Bhansali said, “Bhatt really ‘flew into the character’ and became all over it.” He revealed that even now, during conversations, Bhatt catches up with Gangubai’s persona, which shows how much she has identified with the character. “It’s so much a part of her now,” he said.
Next, Bhansali and Bhatt team up again for the mega project Love And War, which also boasts Ranbir Kapoor and Vicky Kaushal. Bhansali termed the film very important and tough, adding that he was ready to put everything into it. This epic love triangle arrives in theatres in March 2026, but the hysteria has already begun.
