Sanjay Leela Bhansali, Alia Bhatt in talks to revive shelved Salman Khan starrer 'Inshallah'

Sanjay Leela Bhansali and Alia Bhatt in talks to revive shelved Inshallah which Salman Khan had exited and Shah Rukh Khan was earlier considered for (Image Credits Instagram and IMDb)

Sanjay Leela Bhansali and Alia Bhatt could be heading for another collaboration after 'Love & War', with the actor-director duo reportedly discussing the revival of their long-shelved project Inshallah. The film, which was originally announced in 2019 with Salman Khan and Alia Bhatt in the lead, never went on floors after Salman’s exit and subsequent creative differences with Bhansali.

Now, according to a report by Mid-Day, Inshallah may be back on the filmmaker’s table, but not necessarily in the form audiences were promised seven years ago. Bhansali and Bhatt are said to be exploring a substantially reworked version of the romantic drama, with the script expected to undergo significant changes before the casting is locked.

Sanjay Leela Bhansali and Alia Bhatt discuss reviving 'Inshallah'

If the discussions materialise, 'Inshallah' would mark another collaboration between Bhansali and Alia after 'Gangubai Kathiawadi' and 'Love & War'.

The two are reportedly considering revisiting the film following their experience of working together on the upcoming period drama.According to Mid-Day, the proposed version will retain the basic premise of the story but will be substantially reworked. A source cited by the publication explained that the project is not being approached as a straightforward continuation of the version announced in 2019. Instead, Bhansali and Bhatt are said to be looking at the material afresh and giving the love story a new treatment.

The development could potentially give 'Inshallah' a second life after the ambitious project remained in limbo for years.

'Inshallah' was originally announced with Salman Khan and Alia Bhatt

'Inshallah' was one of the most anticipated Bollywood projects announced in 2019, bringing together Salman Khan and Bhansali for the first time in two decades while also pairing Salman with Alia on screen. However, the project was eventually shelved following creative differences between Salman and Bhansali.

The filmmaker subsequently moved ahead with 'Gangubai Kathiawadi', which starred Alia in the titular role.The film's revival has remained a subject of speculation over the years, particularly because Bhansali has continued to express interest in ambitious, character-driven stories while Alia has become one of the filmmaker's key collaborators.

Will Shah Rukh Khan be part of 'Inshallah'?

Earlier this year, there was speculation that Shah Rukh Khan could step in as the male lead if 'Inshallah' was revived.

However, according to the latest information cited by Mid-Day, no casting decision has been taken yet. The reason is reportedly straightforward: Bhansali wants the screenplay to be locked before deciding who will headline the film. With Salman currently committed to other projects like Raj and DK's film and Shah Rukh yet to finalise his next project after 'King', the filmmaker could also consider a younger actor depending on what the reworked script demands.This means that while Alia appears to be central to the revival discussions, the male lead remains an open question.

Why 'Inshallah' could look very different this time

The biggest change could be in the film's writing. Rather than simply replacing Salman with another actor, Bhansali and Alia are reportedly discussing a version that substantially revisits the original material.The story is expected to retain its core but receive a contemporary treatment, with the characters and narrative potentially being reshaped around the actor who eventually comes on board.For Bhansali, the approach is in keeping with his tendency to prioritise the script and character arcs before finalising his ensemble. It also gives Inshallah an opportunity to evolve beyond the version that was announced in 2019.

Alia Bhatt’s current work slate

Alia Bhatt recently headlined Yash Raj Films' Alpha, the female-led action film set within the YRF Spy Universe, alongside Sharvari. The film was released theatrically on July 3, 2026. Bhatt is also gearing up for Sanjay Leela Bhansali's 'Love & War', which reunites her with

Ranbir Kapoor

and also stars

Vicky Kaushal

. The film is currently in post-production and is scheduled for release in January 2027.Beyond these projects, Alia's announced slate includes Sohum Shah's 'Tumbbad 2' alongside Shah and Nawazuddin Siddiqui.