Could Kareena Kapoor Khan and Sanjay Leela Bhansali finally be ready to work together?
More than two decades after their much-discussed history began, reports suggest Sanjay Leela Bhansali has approached Kareena Kapoor for an upcoming film starring Dhanush.
Nothing has been officially confirmed yet, but if the project moves forward, it would mark an interesting new chapter for two Bollywood names whose professional relationship has been discussed for years.
Their history reportedly dates back to Devdas. Kareena is said to have screen-tested for the film before Aishwarya Rai Bachchan ultimately took on the role of Paro. Rumors at the time suggested Kareena was hurt by the experience, contributing to tension between her and Bhansali.
Years later, they nearly worked together again.
Kareena was initially attached to Bhansali’s Ram-Leela, but reportedly exited the project shortly before filming was set to begin. Deepika Padukone ultimately starred opposite Ranveer Singh.
And apparently, Kareena has not forgotten their history.
While speaking with Vicky Kaushal in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter India, Kareena referenced Bhansali while discussing his upcoming film Love & War.
“Love and war is actually me and Sanjay,” she joked, adding, “You can tell him that. He will understand. We have love and war.”
Now, there could finally be another opportunity for the two to collaborate.
According to reports, Kareena has been approached to play the female lead opposite Dhanush in a mythology-inspired story set against the backdrop of a dense forest. The story is also said to revolve around an elephant, with Kareena’s potential character described as a strong role that is just as significant as the male lead.
There is one catch for fans hoping to finally see Kareena in a classic Bhansali-directed spectacle: Bhansali reportedly will not direct the movie. Instead, he is expected to produce the project.
The script is reportedly still being finalized, with pre-production expected to begin in November 2026 and filming potentially starting in January 2027.
Again, none of this has been officially announced, so for now, the potential collaboration remains just that. Potential.
But after more than 20 years of Bollywood history, seeing Kareena Kapoor and Sanjay Leela Bhansali finally work on the same film would certainly make this one worth watching.
