They gave a glimpse of the magic they could create together when they teamed up for Sanju (2018). Since then, people have hoped Rajkumar Hirani and Ranbir Kapoor would return to the drawing board for another project. In fact, there was considerable chatter about the duo collaborating on a biopic. However, we now hear that the film on an athlete is off the immediate slate. Industry insiders claim the film has been deferred until 2027.

“Hirani and Ranbir were very excited about this one; they had been jamming on it through the year,” informs a trade source, adding that since the script needed more time, “Hirani decided to park it. Ranbir’s calendar is packed, so it made sense to regroup later. Everyone wants it to be like Sanju, so they’re okay to wait.”

In the interim, the director has shifted focus to a biopic on Dadasaheb Phalke, starring Aamir Khan, set to begin in January 2026. An insider reveals that Khan has been in preparation for months. “He’s growing out his look and will dive straight into workshops in December. This is the first time he’s playing a real-life pioneer of cinema, and Hirani wants to give it the grandeur it deserves.”

As per Kapoor’s schedule, he will first wrap Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Love & War and the second instalment of Nitesh Tiwari’s Ramayana. The source adds, “Post that, depending on which script is ready, he will take a call between Dhoom 4 and Animal Park, as they are both in advanced development.”