‘He Stood By Me Even When I Messed Up’; Sanjay Leela Bhansali Reveals Name Of His Only Friend In Bollywood

Famous filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali is on cloud nine because of the success of his latest Web Series Heeramandi. Recently, in an interview, Bhansali discussed his previous collaborations with actors such as Salman Khan, Shah Rukh Khan, Aishwarya Rai, and Madhuri Dixit. During the interview, he emphasized that he can only consider Salman a friend, aside from admiring both his actors and the characters he writes. Notably, Salman Khan and Alia Bhatt were initially slated to play pivotal roles in SLB’s highly anticipated film "Inshallah," which was ultimately shelved in 2019 due to creative disparities.

In an interview with Bollywood Hungama, Sanjay Leela Bhansali expressed his affection for his actors, stating, “I love my actors. With actors, your relationship should not just be that of friends; you have to love your actors, you have to love your characters that you’re creating. The only person I’m still friends with is Salman.”

Despite their disputes, Sanjay Leela Bhansali stated that Salman consistently checks in on him and informs him of his mistakes. Previously, it was believed that the two collaborated on ‘Inshallah,’ but the project didn’t materialize, leading to its shelving. Bhansali further mentioned, “Even if a project didn’t happen, he stands by me. He’ll call me, he’ll care for me. 'Bro, are you okay? You've goofed up, you've messed up'” he added.

Bhansali disclosed that even if work-related matters didn’t align, Salman Khan would reach out to him. “Regarding work, we might have disagreed, or our timing might not have been right, causing things not to work out. But after a month, he called me, and I called him, and we conversed. That's what a friend does. In that regard, I'm fortunate to have a friend who will speak to me once every six months and pick up right where we left off,” he continued.

Upcoming Project Of Sanjay Leela Bhansali 

The filmmaker is preparing for the filming of his next project, 'Love & War,' in which Vicky Kaushal, Alia Bhatt, and Ranbir Kapoor will portray the key characters. The planned release date for the movie is December 2025.

Sanjay Leela Bhansali's "Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar" marked the filmmaker's debut appearance on OTT platforms. The period drama premiered worldwide on May 1, 2024. Set in pre-independence India, the show narrates the story of courtesans aiding Indian independence fighters in their struggle against British rule. The star-studded cast of "Heeramandi" featured Richa Chadha, Sanjeeda Shaikh, Aditi Rao Hydari, Manisha Koirala, and Sharmin Segal.

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