Sanjay Leela Bhansali not hospitalised, heart attack rumours dismissed as “False and baseless”: Sources

Earlier reports claimed that Sanjay had suffered a cardiac episode on the night of his birthday and was rushed to Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital in Mumbai.

• Sanjay Leela Bhansali is healthy, hospitalisation rumours false
• Love & War's budget exceeds Rs 400 crore, shooting extended
• Lead actors to earn via profit-sharing, not upfront fees

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Ace filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali celebrated his 63rd birthday on February 24, 2026. However, what should have been a day of celebration quickly turned into a wave of concern after rumours began circulating that he had been hospitalised following a heart attack.

Earlier reports claimed that Sanjay had suffered a cardiac episode on the night of his birthday and was rushed to Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital in Mumbai. The news spread rapidly, sparking worry among fans and members of the film industry.

Putting all speculation to rest, a source close to the filmmaker informed Moneycontrol that the reports were entirely untrue.

The source stated, "Reports about SLB being hospitalised are completely false and baseless. There is no truth to them. We request you to kindly refrain from carrying any such stories, as they have no verified source."

It has now been confirmed that the filmmaker is absolutely healthy and doing fine, and that the hospitalisation claims were rumours based on unverified claims.

Meanwhile, Sanjay Leela Bhansali remains deeply immersed in preparations for his ambitious upcoming period drama Love & War. The film brings together a star-studded cast including Ranbir Kapoor, Alia Bhatt and Vicky Kaushal in lead roles — a combination that has already generated massive buzz.

According to the latest report by Variety India, the film’s budget has crossed the Rs 400 crore mark, making it one of the most expensive projects in Bhansali’s career. The report further revealed that while the original shooting schedule was planned for 120 days, it has now been extended to 175 days. Several large-scale sequences and elaborate dance numbers are still pending, and the prolonged schedule has significantly pushed up the production cost.

Also read: Ranbir Kapoor hails Sanjay Leela Bhansali as one of cinema’s finest, shares Love & War update

Interestingly, the reported budget does not include the fees of the three lead actors. Instead of charging upfront remuneration, Ranbir Kapoor, Alia Bhatt and Vicky Kaushal have opted for a backend profit-sharing arrangement. This means their compensation will come from a share of the film’s theatrical revenue.

While Love & War is expected to release in 2026, the makers are yet to officially announce a release date. Reports suggest that the timeline may have been adjusted due to the scheduled Diwali release of Ranbir Kapoor’s Ramayana: Part 1 later this year.