EntertainmentPosted at: Mar 7 2026 4:58PM


Kiara Advani to play Madhubala in Bhansali-backed biopic

New Delhi, Mar 7 (UNI) After a year-long delay due to budget constraints, the long-gestating Madhubala biopic is back on track, with Kiara Advani set to portray the legendary actress and Sanjay Leela Bhansali joining as producer, Variety India reported.
Sources confirm that the film is expected to go on floors by the end of this year, with the casting of the male leads, who will play Dilip Kumar and Kishore Kumar, currently underway.
Jasmeet K. Reen, who made her directorial debut with the critically acclaimed Darlings, will helm the project. Reen has been passionately working on the script for years and was heartbroken when the film stalled last year.
With Bhansali’s backing, the biopic is expected to be mounted on a lavish scale, staying true to the grand vision initially envisioned.
The yet-untitled film will chronicle the extraordinary life of Madhubala, one of the most iconic actresses in Indian cinema. It will explore her celebrated career, her personal struggles, turbulent relationships with Dilip Kumar and Kishore Kumar, and her tragic death at the age of 36.
Known as the ‘Venus of Indian Cinema,’ Madhubala appeared in over 60 films across a 22-year career, including classics like Mughal-E-Azam, Neel Kamal, Mr. & Mrs. 55, Chalti Ka Naam Gari, and Howrah Bridge.
For Kiara Advani, playing Madhubala is a dream role. She has previously expressed a strong desire to portray the legendary actress and chose this project over other biopic offers, including talks for Meena Kumari’s story.
The film will also mark her first acting assignment following the birth of her child last year. She will next appear in Yash’s action thriller ‘Toxic: A Fairytale For Grown-ups’, set to release on June 4, 2026.
Meanwhile, Sanjay Leela Bhansali is busy shooting his period romance Love & War, starring Ranbir Kapoor, Vicky Kaushal, and Alia Bhatt, which is expected to release early next year.
With Reen’s direction, Bhansali’s production expertise, and Kiara’s much-anticipated performance, the Madhubala biopic promises to bring the legendary actress’s life and legacy back to the big screen with grandeur and emotional depth.
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