One of Bollywood’s oldest unfinished equations may finally be heading for a dramatic rewrite. Sanjay Leela Bhansali has approached Kareena Kapoor Khan for a pivotal role in his new Dhanush-led mythological jungle adventure, reviving a pairing that has carried intrigue ever since their Devdas chapter ended in fallout rather than collaboration.
The untitled film is being mounted on a grand scale, with Dhanush leading the cast and the female part written as a powerful parallel lead. Bhansali is producing the project, while P. S. Mithran, known for Irumbu Thirai, Hero, and Sardar, will direct. The film is currently in the writing stage, with pre-production expected to begin in November 2026 and principal photography scheduled for January 2027. And that casting move lands with extra charge because it circles back to a relationship Bollywood has watched for years.
Why The Bhansali And Kareena Reunion Has Everyone Watching
The history is impossible to ignore. Kareena had screen-tested for Devdas in the early 2000s, but the role eventually went to Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, creating a rupture that stayed part of industry memory for years. In an earlier interview, Kareena had said, “Tomorrow, even if he is the next Raj Kapoor or Guru Dutt, and my films don’t do well and if I’m a flop actress, I will still not ever work with him.”
That is what makes this fresh outreach especially fascinating now. The female character in the Dhanush starrer is positioned as a parallel lead rather than a standard supporting role, giving the part real narrative weight. Kareena has shown interest, though the agreement has not yet been locked as discussions continue around dates, remuneration, and contractual terms.
Plot details remain tightly guarded, but the story is said to revolve around an elephant and unfold as a mythology-rooted jungle saga. The scale alone suggests a project designed as a visual event, and Mithran’s involvement adds an interesting tonal layer to a film backed by Bhansali’s instinct for spectacle.
Bhansali is also moving ahead with Love & War, starring Ranbir Kapoor, Alia Bhatt, and Vicky Kaushal, which is scheduled to release in cinemas on January 21, 2027. That keeps the filmmaker in a busy creative phase even as this Dhanush project shapes up as another major move on his production slate.
Why This Offer Comes At A Crucial Time For Kareena Kapoor Khan
The timing of this approach makes it especially notable in Kareena’s current career phase. Over the last few years, she has moved with confidence between streaming and theatrical films, taking on the Netflix title Jaane Jaan in 2023 before returning to the big screen with Crew and Singham Again in 2024. Her next confirmed theatrical release is Daayra, Meghna Gulzar’s crime thriller co-starring Prithviraj Sukumaran, which is set to arrive on September 18, 2026.
Seen in that context, a Bhansali-backed epic opposite Dhanush would add a very different scale and texture to her recent choices. At a moment when Kareena has been balancing star-led commercial projects with more performance-driven material, this potential collaboration carries the appeal of both legacy and reinvention, which is exactly why the industry will be watching closely for her final call.
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