'Jai Somnath': Sanjay Leela Bhansali and Ketan Mehta Team Up For Historical Drama on Somnath Invasion

'Jai Somnath' is set against the events of 1025–1026 CE, when Mahmud of Ghazni attacked and plundered the Somnath Temple in present-day Gujarat

Team THR India
By Team THR India
LAST UPDATED: FEB 16, 2026, 12:36 IST|4 min read
Sanjay Leela Bhansali, Ketan Mehta join hands for 'Jai Somnath'
Sanjay Leela Bhansali, Ketan Mehta join hands for 'Jai Somnath'

Filmmakers Sanjay Leela Bhansali and Ketan Mehta have teamed up for a new historical drama titled Jai Somnath. The project will be produced under the banners of Bhansali Productions and Maya Movies, with Mehta attached as writer and director. The film is scheduled for release in 2027.

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According to the makers, Jai Somnath is set against the events of 1025–1026 CE, when Mahmud of Ghazni plundered the Somnath Temple in present-day Gujarat. The announcement coincides with 1,000 years of the invasion of the temple, which was later rebuilt. The Somnath temple is regarded as religiously and culturally significant in Indian history. According to the announcement, the film will revisit this episode from India's past for the first time on the big screen. Further details on casting and production timelines are expected to be announced at a later date.

The collaboration brings together Bhansali, known for large-scale period dramas, and Mehta, known for socially driven films like the classic Mirch Masala and the historical Mangal Pandey: The Rising. The filmmaker had last directed Toba Tek Singh, an adaptation of the famous Manto short story, which released in 2018 on ZEE5. He is also known for Manjhi: The Mountain Man, starring Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Radhika Apte.

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Bhansali’s recent credits include the streaming series Heeramandi and period films such as Gangubai Kathiawadi and Padmaavat. As a director, his upcoming venture is Love & War, starring Ranbir Kapoor, Alia Bhatt and Vicky Kaushal. Initially slated for a 2026 release, the film will now likely release next year. During a recent Instagram Live, Ranbir Kapoor confirmed the development, stating that Love & War will release after Nitesh Tiwari's Ramayana, which is slated for Diwali this year.

Bhansali Productions is also bringing out Do Deewane Seher Mein, a contemporary romantic drama starring Siddhant Chaturvedi and Mrunal Thakur. The film will release theatrically on February 20.

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