Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Love & War is shaping up to be one of the most anticipated releases of recent times. The film stars powerhouse performers Ranbir Kapoor, Vicky Kaushal and Alia Bhatt. However, fans may have to wait longer for the film’s release. According to reports, the filmmaker has extended the shooting schedule by 50 days, resulting in an escalation of the production cost.
Variety India quoted a source saying, “Bhansali strives for perfection and is not satisfied until every single frame matches his vision. That relentless commitment is what has made him the towering filmmaker he is today. But the repeated production extensions have ballooned the budget.”
The source continued, “Originally planned at ₹350 crore, the cost has now climbed to ₹425 crore, making it the most expensive Bhansali project to date.”
The publication further reported that the production cost excludes the fees of the leading actors as they have opted for backend profit-sharing deals and will draw remuneration from theatrical revenues, instead of taking upfront payments.
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While Bhansali has largely self-financed the film, he has also reportedly recovered Rs 200 crore from non-theatrical avenues. As per reports, Netflix has acquired the post-theatrical streaming rights for approximately Rs 130 crore, with an additional Rs 70 to 80 crore through music and satellite rights.
The source added, “Despite these healthy pre-recoveries, Love & War has gone significantly over budget, which is risky in today’s unpredictable theatrical market. But Bhansali has always been a risk-taker, and the success of his earlier large-scale films has often justified that gamble.”
Love & War was initially expected to be released this year; however, now it is eying a 2027 release.
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