Sanjay Leela Bhansali Teases Ranbir Kapoor, Alia Bhatt, Vicky Kaushal's Love and War: 'I Needed It'

Director Sanjay Leela Bhansali broke his silence on his upcoming film with Ranbir Kapoor, Alia Bhatt and Vicky Kaushal, titled Love and War. The film marks Bhansali’s first film with Ranbir since his fallout during Saawariya and their recent patch-up. This is also the filmmaker’s first film with Vicky. This will mark his second film with Alia Bhatt after their hit film, Gangubai Kathiawadi. Speaking in a new interview, Bhansali hinted he is excited about the film.

“It’s a love story that I’m making after a long time. A slightly contemporary work, different from the dances, pillars, architecture, drapes, curtains and jewellery [of “Heeramandi”]. It’s a new language, milieu and ambience for me. I needed [it] very much to excite me as a filmmaker to do something new, to speak of a different period, a different set of characters and new circumstances,” Bhansali told Variety.

“It’s nice to work with this wonderful cast of Ranbir, Vicky and Alia. It’ll be nice to see how their chemistry works. And [it is] a triangular love story, which has not come in Hindi cinema for a long time. So let’s see how it all shapes up,” he added.

The film was announced earlier this year. Alia and Vicky had announced the film on Instagram. Around the same time, Pinkvilla reported that it is an original love story. “To set things straight, it’s an original love story and not, inshallah. Sanjay Leela Bhansali has been very keen to take a step back from the period drama’s intense tone. He has been looking to make a love story, and this subject has been at the back of his mind for a while now. SLB feels this is the best time to make a love story and is very excited to tap this genre,” the source told the publication.

“Both Ranbir and Alia heard the narration and loved what they heard. While Alia has already signed the dotted lines, the talks with Ranbir are in the advanced stages,” the insider said before adding, “Vicky is of course excited to come on board SLB’s film and is figuring out his dates for the later part of the year. Once the dates are sorted, he will sign the dotted lines. Vicky has loved the subject.”

With Love and War, Ranbir and Vicky are reuniting on the big screen after Sanju and Ranbir and Alia are being paired together after Brahmastra.