Ranbir Kapoor Plans Massive Against SRK: Will It Work?

September 16, 2024

Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s highly anticipated film Love And War is generating significant buzz in Bollywood.

The epic romance based on Raj Kapoor’s Sangam, starring Ranbir Kapoor, Alia Bhatt, and Vicky Kaushal, is set to go on floors in October 2024, with a release date of March 20, 2026, coinciding with Gudi Padwa and Eid celebrations.

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In a surprising move, Bhansali has opted to self-finance the project, following the lead of studios like YRF and Red Chillies.

He has secured a substantial non-theatrical deal with Netflix and a near-record music deal with Saregama.

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Sources reveal that Netflix has agreed to a base price of Rs 130 crore, potentially increasing based on the film’s box office performance.

Additionally, Saregama has paid Rs 35 crore for the music rights, with discussions ongoing for a Rs 50 crore satellite deal.

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The total non-theatrical revenue for Love And War could reach Rs 215 crore, with the potential for further gains.

Despite offers from several studios for a Rs 350 crore blanket deal, Bhansali chose a no-studio approach. Ranbir Kapoor, Alia Bhatt, and Vicky Kaushal have entered backend deals with Bhansali, with Ranbir reportedly securing a significant share of the theatrical revenue.

Sanjay Leela Bhansali is also exploring the sale of global distribution rights and plans to cover the film’s production costs, estimated at Rs 200 crore, with the revenue from non-theatrical rights.

Complicating the film’s release strategy, Shah Rukh Khan’s upcoming film KING is also slated for an Eid 2026 release.

This has led to speculation that Ranbir Kapoor’s team might be positioning Love And War to compete directly with SRK’s film.

As both films target the same release window, it seems that Ranbir Kapoor’s team is gearing up for a major box-office showdown with Bollywood’s reigning superstar, Shah Rukh Khan.