Fans eagerly awaiting the next collaboration between director Rajkumar Hirani and actor Ranbir Kapoor, the duo behind the 2018 blockbuster Sanju, will have to wait a little longer. According to the latest reports, the planned biopic on an athlete, which would mark their second film together, has been deferred to 2027.
In the interim, Hirani is reportedly shifting his focus to his long-anticipated project: a biopic on the Father of Indian Cinema, Dadasaheb Phalke, starring Aamir Khan.
Hirani to Roll with Aamir Khan in 2026
The much-anticipated Hirani-Kapoor reunion has been delayed primarily due to Ranbir Kapoor’s packed shooting calendar and the desire to perfect the script.
A source told Mid-Day, “Hirani and Ranbir were very excited about this one; they had been jamming on it through the year. 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.”
With the athlete biopic pushed, Rajkumar Hirani is set to commence work on the Dadasaheb Phalke biopic with Aamir Khan. The shoot for this mega-project is likely to begin in January 2026.
The source further added, “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.” This collaboration brings together the 3 Idiots and PK duo for an ambitious historical film.
Ranbir Kapoor’s Blocked Calendar
Ranbir Kapoor’s schedule is currently dominated by high-profile projects. The actor is deep into filming for Nitesh Tiwari’s Ramayana Part 1, where he is playing the role of Lord Ram alongside Sai Pallavi as Sita and Yash as Ravana. Ramayana: Part 1 is slated for a worldwide release on Diwali 2026, with Part 2 set for Diwali 2027.
Following Ramayana, Ranbir also has other major films in the pipeline, which collectively pushed his availability for the Hirani project to 2027.
Speaking about his desire to work with Ranbir again, Hirani had expressed his admiration in December 2023, stating, “Ranbir is an absolute sweetheart. We had a great time making Sanju. I would definitely love to do another film with him… I love Ranbir.”
Fans of the duo, who delivered a massive worldwide grosser with Sanju—which earned ₹588.5 crore—will undoubtedly be counting down the days until 2027 for their next cinematic spectacle.