Rajeev Khandelwal REVEALS Why Chenab Gandhi With Sanjay Leela Bhansali Never Took Off; Admits, “15–20 Din Tak Hum Milte Rahe…”

Actor Rajeev Khandelwal, known for his impactful performances across television and films, recently opened up about one of the most talked-about chapters of his career, his stalled collaboration with filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali. The film, titled Chenab Gandhi, had sparked significant buzz when it was first announced years ago, with Bhansali backing the ambitious project and Khandelwal attached to lead it.

Rajeev Khandelwal Reveals Why His Project With Sanjay Leela Bhansali Got Shelved

However, despite the early excitement and planning, the film never went on the floors and eventually got shelved. Now, the actor has finally addressed what went wrong and why the much-anticipated project failed to materialise. Speaking to Pinkvilla, the actor revealed that the film was part of a two-film deal he had signed with Bhansali. However, despite early plans and discussions, the project simply did not materialise.

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A post shared by Bhansali Productions (@bhansaliproductions)

Talking to Pinkvilla, the actor said, “Knowing that I’m popular, ek commercial film director came to me, jiske baare mein aap sab ko pata hoga. I was signed by a popular filmmaker from our industry. Unhone mujhe sign kiya aur main do film ke deal par tha, par film kabhi take off nahi hui. Since he was a commercial director, the projects seemed commercial, but the script was one of the very few good scripts that I had ever come across. Par woh film take off nahi hui.”

Rajeev Khandelwal Recalls Conversation With Sanjay Leela Bhansali

The actor further revealed he was in fact talking about Chenab Gandhi, a Sanjay Leela Bhansali project that later got shelved, “I am talking about Chenab Gandhi. Woh maine script ki wajah se kiya tha. And at that time, I remember telling Mr Bhansali, ‘aap na mujhe pehle test kare. You tell me that you want me. Post that, give me the liberty to ask you for the script, and also the freedom for me to say no. I know you are a senior director, but sir, aap pehle mere screen test aur look test kar lo. Jis din aap bologe, Rajeev, yes… I want you. Uske baad main script padunga, phir main bhi apna ek right rakhunga haan ya naa bolne ka.’”

The actor concluded, “Unhone uss baat ki kadar ki. 15–20 din tak hum milte rahe. Uske baad maine jaakar script padhi. Main script sunkar hil gaya aur maine kaha, ‘I will do it. I wanna do it.’ Not because of the setup, but because of the script.”

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A post shared by Rajeev Khandelwal (@simplyrajeev)

Ranjeev Khandelwal On Turning Down Another Project

Reflecting on another defining moment from his career, Rajeev Khandelwal revealed how he once turned down a big film despite interest from a prominent filmmaker. He explained that he prioritised the script over the opportunity and chose to trust his instincts, even when the project carried significant buzz and visibility.

Recalling the incident, in the same interview Rajeev shared, “Another incident happened to me. I will not take the name of the film because it is well-known. I asked a very well-known director again that he should screen test me, but I told him that I will read the script, and if I don’t like it, I will say no. He told me I perfectly fit the bill, but when I read the script, I told him that ‘I don’t think I want to do this film.’ He said okay. When the film was releasing, I met him again, and the film was promoted massively, and I was thinking if I made the right choice, and the actor who played that character was very loved, and that actor passed away. The film was a flop after it was released. So I took the right call.”

About Chenab Gandhi

Chenab Gandhi was one of Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s most talked-about projects. The film was meant to be a biographical drama based on the life of Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan, the famous freedom fighter known as Frontier Gandhi. However, the project stalled after discussions between the creative team and the then-attached director Vibhu Puri, who was supposed to helm the film. Despite early buzz and interest from both cast and crew, the film never moved into production.

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Varsha Tiwari

Varsha Tiwari is a budding content writer passionate about Bollywood, pop culture, and the stories behind the spotlight. She enjoys breaking down trends, celebrity moments, and film narratives into engaging, reader-friendly content. Always curious and observant, she is currently pursuing a Master’s in Communication and Journalism. Outside of writing, she enjoys painting because storytelling doesn’t always need words to make an impact.