Alia Bhatt and filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali could be set for another collaboration, with reports suggesting that the duo is discussing the possibility of reviving their long delayed project Inshallah.
The film was originally announced in 2019 with Salman Khan and Alia Bhatt in the lead roles. The announcement generated considerable interest because it was expected to bring Salman Khan and Sanjay Leela Bhansali together again after several years, while also marking Alia Bhatt's first pairing with Salman Khan. However, the project was eventually shelved before production began.
According to a report published by Mid Day on October 5, 2026, Bhansali and Alia are now said to be discussing a possible revival of Inshallah after their work together on Love and War. The report states that the project would not simply return in the same form as the version announced in 2019. Instead, the filmmaker and actress are reportedly exploring a substantially reworked version of the romantic drama.
A source quoted in the report said that the core story could remain intact, but the material would be reworked and given a fresh treatment. This indicates that the screenplay may undergo significant changes before the project moves into production.
At present, the development remains at the discussion stage. Neither Sanjay Leela Bhansali nor Alia Bhatt has officially announced that Inshallah has been revived. Mid Day also reported that Bhansali had not responded to its request for comment by the time of publication.
The original Inshallah project was announced in August 2019 with Salman Khan and Alia Bhatt as the lead actors. It was expected to be directed and produced by Sanjay Leela Bhansali. The project was later put on hold following reported creative differences between Salman and Bhansali.
The shelving of Inshallah eventually led to another important chapter in Alia Bhatt's career. After the project was put aside, Bhansali went ahead with Gangubai Kathiawadi, casting Alia in the titular role. The film became one of the most significant collaborations between the actor and filmmaker and strengthened their professional relationship.
Gangubai Kathiawadi also established Alia as a major performer in Bhansali's style of character-driven cinema. The actress received widespread recognition for her portrayal of Gangubai, while the film became a major talking point in Hindi cinema.
The latest reports suggest that this creative partnership could continue with a revived Inshallah. If the project moves forward with Alia, it would mark another major collaboration between the actor and director.
However, one of the biggest unanswered questions concerns the male lead. Salman Khan was originally attached to the project, but the latest reports do not indicate that he is returning. The current discussions are reportedly focused on developing the screenplay before finalising the cast.
There had also been speculation earlier in 2026 that Shah Rukh Khan could potentially be considered for the male lead. However, the latest report states that no casting decision has been made. According to the source cited by Mid Day, Bhansali wants to finalise the material before locking the actors. The filmmaker could also consider a younger actor depending on what the reworked story requires.
This approach means that the eventual version of Inshallah could look significantly different from the film announced seven years ago. While the central idea of the love story may reportedly remain, changes to the screenplay could influence the characters, tone and casting.
The reported revival also comes at an important point in the professional association between Alia and Bhansali. Following Gangubai Kathiawadi, the two are collaborating again on Love and War.
Love and War stars Alia Bhatt alongside Ranbir Kapoor and Vicky Kaushal. The period drama is another ambitious project from Bhansali and has generated significant interest because of its cast and the director's previous work with Alia.
If Inshallah is eventually revived, it would potentially become Alia and Bhansali's third major feature collaboration. Their partnership has already produced one completed film, Gangubai Kathiawadi, and Love and War is their next project together.
The possibility of reviving Inshallah has been discussed periodically since the original project was shelved. However, earlier reports had also indicated that Bhansali was not immediately planning to restart the film. A 2023 report from Bollywood Hungama, for example, said that the filmmaker had no immediate plans to revive the project at that time.
The latest reports therefore represent a new development rather than confirmation that production has begun. The project still needs a finalised screenplay, casting decisions and an official production announcement before it can be considered fully revived.
For Alia Bhatt, a return to an Inshallah project would also be significant because she was part of the original announcement. The actress has continued to build a strong working relationship with Bhansali since the original film was shelved.
For Bhansali, revisiting Inshallah could offer an opportunity to reshape a story that never reached the production stage. The reported screenplay changes could allow the filmmaker to adapt the story to his current creative vision and the requirements of a new cast.
The identity of the male lead will likely be one of the most closely watched aspects of the project if the revival progresses. Salman Khan's involvement appears to be off the table based on the current reports, while speculation surrounding Shah Rukh Khan remains unconfirmed. A younger actor could also reportedly be considered.
At this stage, audiences should treat the revival as an industry report rather than a confirmed Bollywood announcement. There is no official release date, production schedule or confirmed male lead for Inshallah.
Nevertheless, the possibility of Alia Bhatt and Sanjay Leela Bhansali returning to the project has once again generated interest among Bollywood audiences. Their successful collaboration on Gangubai Kathiawadi and their upcoming work on Love and War have made any potential third project between them a closely watched development.
If discussions progress successfully, Inshallah could receive a new identity while retaining the core idea of the original story. For now, the project remains under discussion, with the screenplay and casting expected to determine whether the long delayed film finally moves forward.
