It has been confirmed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s production house that his next film (titled Inshallah) has been indefinitely shelved. Media reports also state that actor Salman Khan will no longer be a part of the project.

“Sanjay was a friend even before we started working on Khamoshi. He had come to meet me through Manisha Koirala. After that, we collaborated on Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam. When he came to me with this film, I liked it and we decided to work together again. One thing I can say is that Sanjay won’t do gaddaari with his film. I want him to make the film he wants to make. Nothing changes between us as friends and I’m sure nothing has changed in Sanjay’s heart for me. I’m extremely close to his mother (Leela) and sister (Bela). I wish him all the best. He and I will still work in future on a film, Inshallah,” Khan told Mumbai Mirror in an interview.

A source told Mid-Day that the actor wanted to change the very “fabric of the film”.

“While he was happy with the first hour of the story, he had requested Bhansali to rework the rest of the script, especially the climax. Even as the production team set up the first day’s shoot, the two couldn’t agree on the narrative. Bhansali wanted it to be a love story, and Salman could only envision it as a typical Eid potboiler, in which romance is one of the elements. Bhansali respects his actors, and their suggestions are welcome, but not if they aim to alter the narrative. Hence, he took the decision to shelve the film,” the source said.

The source also informed the paper that Bhansali will most likely start focusing on another project called Izhaar. The director has been discussing the project with actor Shah Rukh Khan. In a tweet, Salman Khan hinted that he’d release the Kick sequel on Eid 2020 instead.

(Header image: Getty Images)