Can director Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s ambitious romantic drama Inshallah, which was set to star Salman Khan and Alia Bhatt, be revived? The film was touted to be a romantic story between a 40-year-old businessman and an aspiring actor in her 20s, but was shelved at the last minute after creative differences reportedly cropped up between the filmmaker and Salman. In an interview with The Lallantop, Alia Bhatt was asked about the status of the film, which was shelved a few years ago. It was only after the film was put on the backburner that Bhansali went on to offer Alia the period drama Gangubai Kathiawadi.

“I am doing another film with Sanjay sir called Love and War. I hope he makes the film someday, because it is a brilliant story. It is a lovely love story,” the Jigra actor said.  When the anchor joked that they might have to ‘replace the hero’ and cited the ‘creative differences’ that reportedly emerged between him and Bhansali, Alia smiled and added, “Whatever Sanjay sir decides will be the best for the film!”

Recently, in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter India, Bhansali had recalled how when Inshallah suddenly got shelved, Alia “broke down, cracked up, cried, raved, ranted, locked herself in a room.” He added, “Then, I called her up after one week and said, ‘You’re playing Gangubai’. She said, ‘I was going to play a character in Los Angeles and now I’ve come to Kamathipura, how will I do it? I don’t know this character.’ I told her I will tap into that strong woman in you, because I can see it in your eyes. I can see how convinced you are of certain things, because of your personality.”

Alia was also asked about the status of her delayed road-trip film Jee Le Zaraa, co-starring Priyanka Chopra and Katrina Kaif. The actor said there is “no scheduled shoot date” for the much-delayed film as of yet.

“But it is definitely going to happen; all the key players want it to happen, but it was getting logistically difficult to get all the dates together. If everyone wants to make it happen and if the right intention is there, then it will happen,” she added. Jee Le Zaraa is co-written by Zoya Akhtar, Farhan Akhtar, and Reema Kagti, with Farhan taking on the role of director as well.

Alia can currently be seen in the prison-break actioner Jigra, which released in cinemas on October 11. Directed by Vasan Bala and backed by Karan Johar, the film opened to mixed response and an underwhelming box office response.

After this, the actor will be seen in Alpha, which is part of YRF’s spy universe. The actioner, co-starring Sharvari, will hit the screens next December, while Bhansali’s Love and War, featuring Ranbir Kapoor and Vicky Kaushal, will go on floors soon.

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