Feb 25, 2026 11:41am IST
‘Love & War’ Escalates: Massive ₹425 Crore Budget and Extended 50-Day Shoot for Ranbir, Alia, Vicky (EXCLUSIVE)
Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Love & War is nowhere close to the finish line. Variety India has exclusively learned that the filmmaker has extended the shooting schedule by an additional 50 days, escalating the production cost to over ₹400 crore.
According to industry sources, the Ranbir Kapoor, Vicky Kaushal and Alia Bhatt starrer was initially projected to wrap in 120 days. However, in keeping with Bhansali’s reputation for precision, timelines have stretched repeatedly. The unit has already completed nearly 175 days of shooting, with three songs and a major dramatic sequence still pending, expanding production by another two months. The war sequences, mounted on an epic and visually ambitious scale, are believed to have taken longer than anticipated.
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“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,” says a source. “Originally planned at ₹350 crore, the cost has now climbed to ₹425 crore, making it the most expensive Bhansali project to date.” The figure excludes the fees of its leading actors, who have opted for backend profit-sharing deals, meaning they will draw remuneration from theatrical revenues rather than upfront payments.
Bhansali has largely self-financed the film, with Saregama India coming on board at a later stage. Despite the mounting costs, sources indicate the director has already recovered over ₹200 crore from non-theatrical avenues. Netflix has reportedly acquired the post-theatrical streaming rights for approximately ₹130 crore, with an additional ₹70 to 80 crore generated through music and satellite rights.
“Despite these healthy pre-recoveries, Love & War has gone significantly over budget, which is risky in today’s unpredictable theatrical market,” the source adds. “But Bhansali has always been a risk-taker, and the success of his earlier large-scale films has often justified that gamble.”
Described as a period romance set against the backdrop of war, Love & War centers on a dramatic rivalry between Kapoor and Kaushal’s characters over the same woman, played by Bhatt. While media reports have suggested the film may be loosely inspired by Raj Kapoor’s 1964 classic Sangam, Bhansali has categorically denied any connection. The film is currently targeting an early 2027 theatrical release.
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