Love And War, the magnum opus by the master of grand cinematic experiences – Sanjay Leela Bhansali is once more raking all the attention ahead of its release, starring Ranbir Kapoor, Alia Bhatt, and Vicky Kaushal in lead roles. The film, an epic tale of romance, has already become one of the most anticipated releases in Hindi cinema, and it’s still months away from going on floors!
So while the buzz around Love And War does come from its stellar cast and Bhansali’s direction, the non-theatrical deal done by the filmmaker is a first and groundbreaking even before cameras can roll. The film will be self-financed, something that the director opted for, drawing strength from the likes of Yash Raj Films and Red Chillies Entertainment, where he is in complete control over the production and distribution process.
Bhansali has already struck the gold mine with a massive post-theatrical deal with Netflix, wherein he has got a staggering base price of Rs 130 crore, with the amount going much higher depending upon the theatrical performance. That wasn’t enough; he also signed a near-record music deal with Saregama for Rs 35 crores. Talks are on for a satellite deal with a leading television network, which will fetch an additional Rs 50 crore and bring in a whopping Rs 215 crore in non-theatrical revenue for Love And War.
The most interesting aspect of this deal has been that the three leads—Ranbir Kapoor, Alia Bhatt, and Vicky Kaushal—have accepted backend profit-sharing deals with Bhansali, instead of taking upfront fees. This means that the compensation largely will be through the theatrical revenue, and Ranbir is going to get reportedly the largest share of it. It’s a model that places faith in how the film will actually perform, and with the scale at which Bhansali is mounting Love And War, it’s bound to pay off big time for everyone.
What sets Love And War apart is Bhansali’s decision to handle everything independently, despite receiving several lucrative studio offers. He rejected a whopping Rs 350 crore blanket deal from various studios and kept control over the global distribution rights himself. Bhansali is ensuring that the overflow share clause remains intact for himself, further securing a significant cut of the profits from the global theatrical release.
Produced at a staggering Rs 200 crore (excluding talent fees), Love And War promises to be a cinematic spectacle rarely seen in Bollywood. War sequences that could never be imagined before, an all-star dream cast, and a boundary-pushing director this film is set to become a major blockbuster even before it hits the big screens.
All eyes are going to be glued to this epic love story as it sets to release on March 20, 2026, coinciding with Gudi Padwa and Eid, but the anticipation only mounts up. Get ready for a larger-than-life cinematic experience that only Bhansali can deliver.
Source: Pinkvilla
