Entertainment

Love And War theatrical rights sold for Rs. 300 crore, report says

Bollywood Hungama reports that Pen Marudhar has secured the global theatrical rights to Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Love And War for Rs. 300 crore.

Neha Sharma

Commentary & Analysis ·

5 min read
Illustrative image for the story: Love And War theatrical rights sold for Rs. 300 crore, report says
Illustrative image for the story: Love And War theatrical rights sold for Rs. 300 crore, report says · Picture: The NE Times

The theatrical rights of Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Love And War have been sold for Rs. 300 crore, according to an exclusive report by Bollywood Hungama on 30 September 2026. The publication reported that Pen Marudhar has secured the deal after a bidding contest involving several major film companies.

Bollywood Hungama described the agreement as a global deal for the Ranbir Kapoor, Alia Bhatt and Vicky Kaushal-starrer, which is scheduled to release on 21 January 2027. The reported Rs. 300 crore figure has not been presented as an official confirmation from the film's producers, with the number attributed to Bollywood Hungama and a source quoted by the publication.

Love And War deal: key facts

  • Bollywood Hungama reports that the theatrical rights of Love And War have been sold for Rs. 300 crore.
  • The film is directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali and stars Ranbir Kapoor, Alia Bhatt and Vicky Kaushal.
  • Love And War is scheduled for theatrical release on 21 January 2027.
  • Bollywood Hungama reports that Pen Marudhar secured the rights after a strong bidding war.
  • Dharma Productions, Jio Studios, Anil Thadani and Pen Marudhar were reported to have been in the race.
  • The film reunites Ranbir Kapoor and Sanjay Leela Bhansali after 20 years, according to Bollywood Hungama.

What the Rs. 300 crore theatrical-rights deal means

A theatrical-rights transaction concerns the commercial rights connected with bringing a film to cinemas and participating in its theatrical business. In the case of Love And War, Bollywood Hungama says Pen Marudhar has acquired those rights through what its source described as a global deal.

The reported Rs. 300 crore number is significant within the story because it represents the value Bollywood Hungama says was placed on the film's theatrical rights before its January 2027 release. The publication also reports that multiple companies competed for the distribution opportunity, making the scale of the bidding central to how the deal was reached.

Bollywood Hungama's source said, "It's a global deal, and Pen Marudhar is set to bring forward the biggest release of 2027 in January." The source added that there had been substantial bidding behind the scenes and said Sanjay Leela Bhansali had obtained what it described as the best value from Pen Marudhar.

Pen Marudhar emerged from a competitive bidding race

According to Bollywood Hungama, Love And War attracted a strong bidding war within the film fraternity. The publication named Dharma Productions, Jio Studios, Anil Thadani and Pen Marudhar among those competing to secure the distribution rights.

The reported competition gives context to the Rs. 300 crore valuation. Rather than presenting the amount as a figure announced by the producers, Bollywood Hungama attributes the number to its reporting and source, while also linking the final value to the bidding process between interested parties.

Bollywood Hungama further reports that Pen Marudhar and the stakeholders in Love And War are confident that the theatrical investment can be recovered and that the release can generate substantial profits. That expectation is also the publication's report rather than a publicly stated guarantee of the film's eventual theatrical performance.

Ranbir Kapoor, Alia Bhatt and Vicky Kaushal lead Bhansali's film

Love And War brings together Ranbir Kapoor, Alia Bhatt and Vicky Kaushal under the direction of Sanjay Leela Bhansali. Bollywood Hungama's source pointed to that combination while explaining the reported Rs. 300 crore theatrical valuation.

The source told Bollywood Hungama that Ranbir Kapoor was among the biggest superstars of Indian cinema and highlighted the support of Alia Bhatt and Vicky Kaushal. It described Love And War as the biggest ensemble Bhansali had assembled and said the film deserved the Rs. 300 crore theatrical number.

Bollywood Hungama also notes that the project marks a reunion between Kapoor and Bhansali after 20 years. That reunion, alongside the presence of Bhatt and Kaushal, forms part of the commercial expectations surrounding the film in the publication's report.

Love And War release date and promotional plans

Love And War is scheduled to open in cinemas on 21 January 2027, according to Bollywood Hungama. The publication says posters for the film were released in the previous week and described them as having "taken the digital world by storm".

The next major promotional step is expected to be a teaser. Bollywood Hungama reports that Bhansali is planning to launch the teaser around Diwali and that it is expected to arrive alongside Ramayana.

The schedule places the reported Rs. 300 crore rights transaction well ahead of the January theatrical launch. With the posters already released and a teaser expected next, Bollywood Hungama's reporting indicates that the film's marketing campaign is moving into its next phase before the planned release.

Love And War theatrical deal at a glance

Detail Reported information
Theatrical-rights value Rs. 300 crore, according to Bollywood Hungama
Rights holder Pen Marudhar, according to Bollywood Hungama
Director Sanjay Leela Bhansali
Lead cast Ranbir Kapoor, Alia Bhatt and Vicky Kaushal
Release date 21 January 2027
Reported bidders Dharma Productions, Jio Studios, Anil Thadani and Pen Marudhar

Pen Marudhar's other recent distribution deal

The Love And War agreement follows another distribution-rights report involving Pen Marudhar. Bollywood Hungama separately reported on 29 September 2026 that the company had won a major bidding war for Gunmaaster G9 and secured its all-India distribution rights.

That report came after the success of Awarapan 2, according to Bollywood Hungama. The publication's coverage therefore places the Love And War deal alongside another recent competitive acquisition by Pen Marudhar, although the Love And War transaction is described separately as a global deal.

For Love And War itself, the central business development remains Bollywood Hungama's report that its theatrical rights have been valued at Rs. 300 crore and secured by Pen Marudhar after competition from several industry players. The film is now moving towards its scheduled 21 January 2027 release, with a teaser expected around Diwali.

Frequently asked questions

How much were the theatrical rights of Love And War sold for?

Bollywood Hungama reports that the theatrical rights of Love And War have been sold for Rs. 300 crore. The publication attributes the information to its reporting and a source connected with the deal. The figure has not been stated here as an official confirmation from the film's producers.

Who bought the theatrical rights of Love And War?

According to Bollywood Hungama, Pen Marudhar secured the theatrical rights to Love And War. Its source described the transaction as a global deal. The publication reported that Pen Marudhar prevailed after a bidding process involving Dharma Productions, Jio Studios and Anil Thadani among the interested parties.

When is Love And War releasing?

Bollywood Hungama reports that Love And War is scheduled to release on 21 January 2027. The Sanjay Leela Bhansali-directed film stars Ranbir Kapoor, Alia Bhatt and Vicky Kaushal. Posters were released in the previous week, while a teaser is expected around Diwali, according to the publication.

Why is the Love And War Rs. 300 crore deal notable?

The reported Rs. 300 crore value is notable within Bollywood Hungama's account because it followed strong competition for the film's distribution rights. The publication says Dharma Productions, Jio Studios, Anil Thadani and Pen Marudhar were in the race, with Pen Marudhar ultimately securing what its source called a global deal.

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