The buzz around Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s upcoming film, Love & War, continues to grow as new details about the cast emerge. Starring Ranbir Kapoor, Alia Bhatt, and Vicky Kaushal, the film has now welcomed senior actor Ashwin Kaushal into a key role. In a recent revelation, Ashwin shared the story of how he secured the part of Ranbir Kapoor’s father and his experience working with Ranbir himself.

During a recent interview, Ashwin Kaushal explained that his casting in the film was unexpected. Originally, he was being considered for a much smaller appearance. He recalled his first meeting with Bhansali saying, “In February last year, Sanjay Leela Bhansali wanted to meet me. Their set was being put up in Film City. I went there and met him for the first time. He told me there were one or two sequences in the film, that was for another role. The next day, I got a call from his office saying that after observing me, he had something else in mind. That’s when I was told I would be playing Ranbir Kapoor’s father.”

For Ashwin, the role carries deep emotional significance. He expressed a long-standing admiration for Ranbir’s late father, Rishi Kapoor, making this casting feel like a stroke of fate. He said, “Rishi Kapoor was my idol, almost like a father figure to me. And now I got to play Ranbir’s father, destiny works in strange ways.” 

Despite Ranbir’s stardom, Ashwin was impressed with his grounded nature and professionalism on set. He mentioned that Ranbir was aware of their shared history, as Ashwin had previously worked with Rishi Kapoor in the film Damini. He said, “Ranbir is extremely well-mannered. There’s absolutely no attitude. He met me with so much warmth and even knew that I had worked with his father in Damini. He was very cooperative.” 

Love & War is touted to be one of Bhansali’s most ambitious projects to date. The film is reportedly being mounted on a massive scale, featuring extensive VFX work and large-scale aerial action sequences. The makers have locked January 21, 2027, for the release, aiming for the Republic Day weekend.

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While Akshay Kumar’s horror-comedy Bhooth Bangla continues its steady run, at the box office, the newly released Hollywood biopic Michael has also managed to make its mark. Despite being in its second week, Bhooth Bangla is maintaining its grip on the domestic market, even as it faces fresh competition from Michael.

Akshay Kumar’s Bhooth Bangla Inches Closer to a Milestone

Bhooth Bangla, which reunites Akshay Kumar with director Priyadarshan after over a decade, has been liked by audiences. However, as it entered its second Monday, the film saw a predictable dip in numbers. On Day 11, the movie earned approximately Rs 3.5 crore, bringing its total domestic collection closer to the Rs 200 crore club.

Trade analysts have noted that the film’s performance remains strong for a horror-comedy. While the second Monday drop was noticeable, the film’s overall trajectory suggests it will comfortably cross the double-century mark by the end of the week. The trade experts noted, “The film has benefited from the nostalgic pairing of Akshay and Priyadarshan, which has brought family audiences back to the theatres.” 

Michael Makes a Strong Start, Challenges Competitors

On the other hand, the Michael Jackson biopic Michael, starring Jaafar Jackson, has completed its opening weekend in India with impressive figures. The film earned Rs 16 crore over its first three days. The biopic’s performance has been strong enough to outperform Indian films. Specifically, on its first weekend, Michael managed to outshine Ranveer Singh’s Dhurandhar: The Revenge, which is currently in its sixth week of release.

The biopic is not just competing with older releases but is also giving Bhooth Bangla a run for its money in premium formats and urban centres. The fascination with Michael Jackson’s life story appears to have translated into a solid opening for Jaafar Jackson, who makes his debut in the lead role. 

Also Read: Fresh Allegations Surface Against Michael Jackson As Four Siblings File Lawsuit