Director Sanjay Leela Bhansali has made headlines again with his upcoming film Love and War, which stars Alia Bhatt, Ranbir Kapoor, and Vicky Kaushal.
However, some rumours suggested that the film is a reworking of the 1964 classic Sangam. Bhansali recently addressed these claims in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter India, and his response was clear—Love and War is not a remake.
Sanjay Leela Bhansali REACTS To Claims Of Love And War Being A Remake Of Sangam
Bhansali reacted to the comparisons and denied the claims by saying, “Not at all. I love Sangam, I’ve watched it. Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam is also like Sangam. I tried to make Aishwarya Rai into Vyjayanthimala from Sangam… It’s not Sangam at all, with all my love for Raj Kapoor.”
He added that remaking a classic like Sangam or other iconic films such as Mughal-E-Azam or Pakeezah wouldn’t make sense.
He said, “You never re-make a great man’s classic.” Bhansali also spoke about his recent series Heeramandi, which he described as a tribute to Kamal Amrohi’s Pakeezah.
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Ranbir-Alia-Vicky Starrer To Be Different From SLB’s Previous Works
Fans who are curious about Love and War will have to be patient. Bhansali gave a little teaser, saying, “If you want to hear the story of Love and War, you’ll have to wait for it.”
He kept the suspense alive, but his words about the film were enough to raise excitement.
According to him, Love and War will be very different from his past work. He explained that it’s not a period film, which is a big shift from his usual style. “It’s contemporary, it’s different. There are no pillars, no costumes, no more horses. The music is different, I’m enjoying doing it,” Bhansali shared.
The director also expressed how excited he is about the project. “It’s a film that I’m very, very excited about. I have got wonderful actors… It’s a difficult film for me, so I’ll take a little time to make it properly, carefully,” he said, acknowledging the challenges ahead.
About 1964 Film Sangam
For those unfamiliar, Sangam is a romantic drama directed by Raj Kapoor, starring Raj Kapoor, Vyjayanthimala, and Rajendra Kumar.
It tells the story of a love triangle involving a pilot who returns from war and marries the woman he loves, only to discover that she had planned to marry his best friend.
Although Bhansali’s Love and War shares no connection with the plot, the idea of intense emotions and relationships might have sparked these initial comparisons.
Meanwhile, Love and War is set to release on March 20, 2026, and filming is expected to start in the coming months.
(Also read: Sanjay Leela Bhansali Says Filmmaking Is EVERYTHING To Him: ‘It’s My God, Mother, Father, My Lover’)
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