Why Sanjay Leela Bhansali is trending now

Published 22 October 2026 at 7:00 pm · 10 sources · 200+ searches today

Sanjay Leela Bhansali is trending in India after actor Smita Jayakar revisited an anecdote from the filming of Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam (1999). She said Salman Khan touched Aishwarya Rai Bachchan during the song “Aankhon Ki Gustakhiyan,” and Bhansali objected. As of 22 October 2026, the story is being discussed alongside fresh interest in Bhansali’s upcoming film Love & War.

Key facts

22 Oct 2026: Smita Jayakar’s anecdote put Bhansali back in the spotlight
Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam (1999) is the film behind the viral recollection
Love & War stars Ranbir Kapoor, Alia Bhatt and Vicky Kaushal
Love & War is scheduled for worldwide release on 21 Jan 2027
Reports say global rights for Love & War were sold for about ₹300 crore

What happened

The current attention comes from Smita Jayakar’s account of a moment during the filming of Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam. She said that in the song sequence “Aankhon Ki Gustakhiyan,” Salman Khan reportedly touched Aishwarya Rai Bachchan’s arm even though it was not part of the choreography.

According to Jayakar, Bhansali noticed the gesture and questioned Salman about it. She said Salman acted on his feelings for Aishwarya, and that Bhansali shouted at him because he was only supposed to stand and look at her.

The anecdote resurfaced in a conversation with interviewer Siddhartha Kannan and was reported on 22 October 2026. It has revived public discussion around one of the best-known on-screen pairings and off-screen stories of that era.

Why people are searching now

The viral recollection is tied to one of Bhansali’s most famous films, so it naturally pulls attention back to his name. It also brings back public interest in Salman Khan and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan’s much-discussed relationship from the late 1990s.

That older story is being discussed at the same time Bhansali has another major project in the headlines. His film Love & War, starring Ranbir Kapoor, Alia Bhatt and Vicky Kaushal, is reported to have completed principal filming in October 2026.

Search interest is also rising because reports suggest Bhansali and Alia Bhatt may revisit the shelved project Inshallah after Love & War. That revival has not been confirmed.

Love & War in numbers

Reports say Bhansali returned to shoot additional war portions about three weeks after the main wrap, spending roughly one week filming battle sequences at Welcome Maidaan. An extra song was reportedly dropped from the film.

The film’s worldwide theatrical release is scheduled for 21 January 2027. Its global theatrical rights were reportedly sold for around ₹300 crore, though that figure has not been officially confirmed by the filmmakers.

This scale helps explain why Bhansali remains a major search topic even before release: a large-budget film, a star cast, and fresh chatter around his older classics are all feeding attention at once.

What to watch next

As of 22 October 2026, the main public update is the resurfaced Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam anecdote and the continuing buildup to Love & War. No new official statement from Bhansali is included in the available evidence.

If Love & War stays on schedule, the next big milestone will be its theatrical release on 21 January 2027. Until then, reports about additional reshoots, the dropped song, or any confirmed link to Inshallah will likely keep Bhansali in the news.

For readers trying to understand the trend, the short answer is simple: an old Salman–Aishwarya filming story has gone viral again, and it is colliding with fresh interest in Bhansali’s next big release.

Frequently asked

Why is Sanjay Leela Bhansali trending today?

He is trending because Smita Jayakar revisited an anecdote from Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam on 22 October 2026. Her recollection about Salman Khan and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan has gone viral and revived interest in Bhansali.

What did Smita Jayakar say about Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam?

She said Salman Khan reportedly touched Aishwarya Rai Bachchan’s arm during “Aankhon Ki Gustakhiyan” even though it was not in the choreography. She said Bhansali noticed it and questioned him.

What is Bhansali’s next film?

His next reported film is Love & War, starring Ranbir Kapoor, Alia Bhatt and Vicky Kaushal. It is scheduled for worldwide theatrical release on 21 January 2027.

How much did Love & War reportedly sell for?

Reports say the film’s global theatrical rights were sold for about ₹300 crore. That figure is reported, not officially confirmed by the filmmakers.

Sources

Researched automatically from live news and written by Simpledot's AI; facts are limited to what the sources above report as of the published time. Spot an error? Tell us.