Bhansali’s films have also travelled widely across international festivals, helping Indian stories find a global audience
The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting partnered with filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali to present a special tableau celebrating Indian cinema at this year’s Republic Day Parade. The tableau showcased on January 26 at Kartavya Path, marking the first time an Indian film director had been chosen to represent Indian cinema at the national ceremonial event.
The initiative aimed to spotlight the cultural legacy, creative depth and global reach of Indian cinema, which has long served as one of India’s most visible cultural exports.
From Khamoshi to Devdas, Black, Bajirao Mastani, Padmaavat and Gangubai Kathiawadi, Bhansali has consistently carried forward the legacy of visionaries like Guru Dutt, K. Asif and V. Shantaram—filmmakers who believed cinema could be poetry, spectacle and social commentary all at once. His world-building, music, and emotionally charged storytelling have made Indian cinema feel both rooted and grand on an international canvas.
Looking ahead, Bhansali’s upcoming film Love and War already promises to be another ambitious chapter in his illustrious career. With its powerful title and an ensemble that brings together some of the finest contemporary actors, including Ranbir Kapoor, Alia Bhatt, and Vicky Kaushal, the film is expected to explore intense human emotions against a sweeping backdrop, territory Bhansali knows better than anyone else.
What a source said about the collaboration
Speaking about the collaboration, a source said, “For the first time ever, a true flag-bearer of Indian cinema,
Sanjay Leela Bhansali, will represent Indian cinema at the Republic Day Parade. This historic honour marks a defining chapter for Indian cinema and is set to create strong national momentum. There could be no better representative for this moment than Sanjay Leela Bhansali.”
Bhansali’s films have also travelled widely across international festivals, helping Indian stories find a global audience. The Republic Day tableau is expected to reflect the scale, discipline and emotional intensity associated with his filmmaking, while celebrating Indian cinema as a whole rather than focusing on a single film or moment.
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