'Love and War' budget crosses Rs 400 crore with Alia Bhatt, Ranbir Kapoor, Vicky Kaushal opting for profit-share deal - Reports

'Love and War' starring Alia Bhatt, Ranbir Kapoor and Vicky Kaushal has officially become one of the most expensive films in Indian cinema. A Variety India report states that the film originally budgeted at Rs 350 crore has now exceeded Rs 425 crore.According to the report, Sanjay Leela Bhansali is a perfectionist who won't stop until every detail of a film looks exactly how he imagined it. While this dedication has made him a legendary director, the constant delays and extra filming days have caused the movie's budget to skyrocket. The Rs 425-crore estimate does not include the fees of Alia, Ranbir and Vicky. Instead, all three leads have opted for a backend profit-sharing deal ensuring they receive payouts from theatrical revenue. According to the report, the shoot initially planned for 120 days has already stretched to 175 days with several large sequences and song shoots yet to be completed. According to the source, the film's budget has jumped from an initial 350 crore to 425 crore. This price hike officially makes it the most expensive movie Sanjay Leela Bhansali has ever produced.The film is primarily backed by filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali.Despite cost escalations, Bhansali has reportedly already recovered around Rs 200 crore through early rights sales. This includes: Streaming rights sold to Netflix for nearly Rs 130 crore, Music and satellite rights sold for approximately Rs 80 croreEven though the movie has already made some money back, the report states that 'Love and War' has become much more expensive than planned. In today's unpredictable cinema market, spending this much is a big risk. However, Bhansali is known for taking these kinds of chances, and his past hits have usually proven that his big bets pay off.Amid rumours of postponement, Ranbir Kapoor has now addressed the chatter. During a live session celebrating the first anniversary of his lifestyle brand ARKS, the actor confirmed that the film is indeed delayed.Although the team has not locked a release date, Ranbir said the aim remains to release the film in 2026. He also confirmed that his other major project 'Ramayana Part One' will release before 'Love and War'.'Ramayana' is scheduled for an October 2026 release.With 'Ramayana' arriving first reports indicate that 'Love and War' will most likely release at the end of 2026, possibly in December, depending on shoot completion and post-production timelines.