Sanjay Leela Bhansali announced his new film project, Jai Somnath, as a producer earlier today through social media. To be produced by Bhansali through his namesake banner, it will be directed by Maya Memsaab and Mangal Pandey: The Rising fame Ketan Mehta from his own screenplay. The film marks Ketan's comeback to direction after 2022's Freedom Radio.
The makers also dropped a video to announce the project that shows a religious building with a saffron flag on top of it. In the announcement video, the makers revealed that Sanjay Leela Bhansali and Ketan Mehta will "bring to life the saga of Somnath" and "the indestructible spirit of India." The video also shows the destruction of a temple. "A temple can be broken, not the faith," reads the tagline in the clip.
From the looks of it, the film will tackle a story based on the history of Somnath Temple in Gujarat. Many different invaders, such as Alauddin Khalji and Aurangzeb, destroyed the temple before its reconstruction over the years.
Writer-director Ketan is known for handling period subjects, notably the Aamir Khan starrer Mangal Pandey and the Deepa Sahi-Shah Rukh Khan starrer Maya Memsaab. Bhansali is also popular for his period dramas, and his attachment to the project only adds to the anticipation around it. The company Maya Movies is also part of the project, as is music director Kaala Bhairava.
The makers are yet to announce official plot or cast details. However, they revealed that the film will release in theatres worldwide next year.
Coming back to Bhansali, his upcoming projects include Do Deewane Seher Mein, the Siddhant Chaturvedi-Mrunal Thakur starrer, where he serves as a producer, and his directorial Love and War, starring Ranbir Kapoor.
