Itishree Misra (BOMBAY TIMES; April 18, 2019)

Sanjay Leela Bhansali has begun work on his next film Inshallah, starring Salman Khan and Alia Bhatt. The Padmaavat filmmaker spent four days last week scouting for locations for the film in Haridwar, Rishikesh and Uttarkashi.

Bhansali reportedly also visited the famous Maya Devi temple in Haridwar and sought the blessings of the deity before beginning his recce in the region. “Bhansali sir last week yahan aaye thay aur unhone Haridwar aur Rishikesh mein kuchh locations dekhen hain jo unhe pasand bhi aaye hain,” informs Chinmay Pandit, the line producer in Haridwar, who took the National Award winning-director around in both towns to show him probable shoot locations. While in Rishikesh, Bhansali saw a few bylanes and ashrams in the town and also the ghats for the shoot. “Sir also saw the Ganga aarti and also participated in it in Haridwar besides seeing a few houses too,” says Pandit.

The filmmaker is also planning to shoot the film in Varanasi and will be conducting the recce there in the coming days. “I am still awaiting his confirmation for that as to when he wants to go there,” informs Chinmay.

It is after nearly two decades that Bhansali will be working with Salman Khan after Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam in 1999. Khan had then last done a cameo in Ranbir Kapoor-Sonam Kapoor’s debut Saawariya, while this film, touted to be a love story, will be Alia’s first film with the Devdas director.
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Himesh Mankad (MUMBAI MIRROR; April 18, 2019)

Mirror was the first to report (February 23) that Salman Khan and Sanjay Leela Bhansali will reunite after 19 years for a contemporary love story, which goes on the floors in the second half of the year. Soon after, it was revealed that it is titled Inshallah, will feature Alia Bhatt in the lead and is targeting an Eid 2020 release. Now, we have learnt that the film is a contemporary romance rooted in Indian culture and goes on the floors in September. According to a source close to the development, the film will be shot around the river Ganga, as Bhansali is looking for a certain landscape. “The locations under consideration are Haridwar, Rishikesh and Varanasi,” the source informed, adding that Bhansali and his leads will also fly to the US for a major schedule. “The crew was contemplating on several places, including Europe, but settled on the US after several rounds of recce. Salman and Alia will be there in winters.”

Contrary to the buzz, that Salman and Alia are cast as siblings in the film, the source confirms that the duo is romantically paired. “Salman is a businessman in his mid-40s. The character is reminiscent of his turn in his 1997 romcom Jab Pyar Kisise Hota Hai. Alia plays a 20-something aspiring actress. All the factors, including age gap, have been taken into consideration. The story will justify the teaming up of two actors, from different generations, on a romantic journey,” the source revealed.

While Salman is stepping out of the larger-than-life zone for Inshallah, SLB is taking a breath from intense dramas with it.

Before starting work on his first love story since Sultan, Salman will wrap up Dabangg 3, while Alia will finish up work on SS Rajamouli’s RRR and take Sadak 2 on the floors before moving on to SLB’s film.

Mirror reached out to the film’s production team but they refused to comment.