Alia Bhatt Locked Herself in Room After Inshallah Was Shelved, Says Bhansali: 'She Cried, Ranted...'

A few years ago, Alia Bhatt and Salman Khan were set to star in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Inshallah, a much-anticipated project that had fans excited to see the two powerhouses share screen space. However, the film was shelved unexpectedly, leaving fans heartbroken. But it wasn’t just the audience who felt the sting of disappointment. According to Bhansali, Alia Bhatt was deeply affected by the sudden halt of the project, to the point where she locked herself in a room to cope with the news.

In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter India, Bhansali opened up about the emotional toll Inshallah’s cancellation took on Bhatt. While discussing his approach to working with actors and finding their raw essence as performers, the acclaimed filmmaker recalled how Bhatt reacted to the scrapping of Inshallah. “She broke down, she cracked up, cried, raved, ranted, and locked herself in a room,” Bhansali shared.

However, just a week later, Bhansali had a life-changing call with the actress. He offered her the lead role in his magnum opus Gangubai Kathiawadi. Initially, Bhatt was uncertain if she could embody such a complex character. “From LA, where I was supposed to play the character in Inshallah, I suddenly found myself in Kamathipura. I didn’t know if I could do it,” she admitted to Bhansali. But with his guidance, Bhatt slowly transformed into the fierce, resilient Gangubai.

According to Bhansali, once Bhatt embraced the character, she “flew into the role” and fully immersed herself in it. Even today, Bhansali revealed that Bhatt sometimes slips into Gangubai’s persona during conversations. “It’s so much a part of her now,” he said, calling it a beautiful connection to the role.

Looking ahead, Bhatt and Bhansali are set to collaborate again on Love And War, a grand project that will also feature Ranbir Kapoor and Vicky Kaushal. Bhansali, in his conversation with the publication, mentioned that this film is particularly important and challenging, and he’s determined to pour everything into it. The epic love triangle is expected to release in March 2026, and fans are already buzzing with anticipation.