Devdas to Love and War: Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Saga of Complex Love Triangles

Producer: Priyanka Das Editor: Nisha Dubey

Maverick director Sanjay Leela Bhansali has had a fascination with depicting complex love triangles in his movies. Here are some of the iconic trios from his movies.

[{"selector":"#anim-5aaf9b29-7b8c-4a55-af2b-d5b94f2d5126 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(1.0658141036401503e-14%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":4000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7992f3a2-0157-43bb-9e1e-87daf689d08e","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f60460d4-835c-4184-90f4-8cf387225ae9","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-108.85714%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam (1999)

[{"selector":"#anim-5a6c17f0-72a4-44b8-8025-89a4bfe44a16 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(-1.0658141036401503e-14%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":4000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-fa0fdf11-3073-487e-98e7-a91168cebd77","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-2ec3bc3f-13a1-4f41-a9a3-161b57c5fcbc","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-108.85714%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

The romantic drama film centers on a husband's quest to unite his wife with her lover, after discovering that she's still in love with him.

[{"selector":"#anim-ebe0eb96-cffd-4517-a239-957b618e5795 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(10.204081712261884%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":4000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-2aaf794e-9ed6-48f5-9891-dc3855891ad1","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-6d93fea9-8fdc-4850-8cf1-58f942f01759","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-108.85714%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

Devdas (2002)

[{"selector":"#anim-61748b5f-cdb6-444f-9b95-71df79358c69 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":4000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3de21c84-3e1e-4c35-b1f2-66147d2b6474","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c1672200-5f92-43c6-82c4-5e513872c551","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-106.28572%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

The period romance is about two childhood friends turned lovers, who couldn't get together due to circumstances. It leads to the man seeking refuge with a courtesan.

[{"selector":"#anim-86a0286e-0675-4820-9e62-fc710e9409a0 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":4000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-eb07557d-05b8-4f67-a93f-d12c1389ec0b","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-af24caff-ef79-4374-a93a-12ea08356a0e","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-106.28572%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

Saawariya (2007)

[{"selector":"#anim-c88d7461-691b-4ec8-9a36-34afcbe8aa8a [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":4000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3e53a84d-fef7-4870-ba84-7fb17b2d9571","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c2504797-32b9-4b17-9dc7-552bb8946d54","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-108.85714%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

The romance film focuses on a free-spirited singer, who is in love with a young woman. She, on the other hand, is in love with another man.

[{"selector":"#anim-3424f4d1-deb2-4688-9e40-7d3f5b684611 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(-15.729783086611143%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":4000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-436d7fb6-49d0-4570-b2ec-8ec54feb4d81","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-13231ee0-8e4b-4e88-a8b4-ded905b4bf1c","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-106.28572%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

Bajirao Mastani (2015)

[{"selector":"#anim-3a447f01-80ed-412c-bde1-f717ef613431 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":4000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-fb9748c3-2717-4d65-9a9a-0e554a79e4a3","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b1fdd237-f909-4cc4-bca0-5c6f312b31b8","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-106.28572%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

The epic historical film is about Maratha Peshwa Bajirao I, married to Kashibai, who falls in love with warrior princess Mastani.

[{"selector":"#anim-2d2bd283-740d-47e9-9e32-9deda8bbe53e [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(-1.4210854715202004e-14%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":4000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-478fedf1-bb14-4dbe-ae44-a7ca6d6a0e59","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-559db331-84eb-4214-a223-57c857c6b564","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-106.28572%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

Love and War (to be released in 2025)

[{"selector":"#anim-e4093871-5e87-448b-8a92-52864cc89703 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(-4.0816326849047435%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":4000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-dd1b7bfb-c9ce-4ba2-a0d7-5e5b1d3cb3de","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f5de9d27-bf79-4b90-b016-b80064925f5d","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-108.85714%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

The upcoming film, expected to go on floors from October 2024, is another love triangle by Sanjay Leela Bhansali. Ranbir Kapoor, Alia Bhatt and Vicky Kaushal are the three leads.

[{"selector":"#anim-0feaca6a-dd6e-4f04-8237-46fdbb2d2afa [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(-25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":4000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3e446336-7e7e-47c1-8dcf-fc5bb35a6fb0","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e2bb0cdc-9a3b-45ad-9ee4-08a282df2349","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-108.85714%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

[{"selector":"#anim-9e02365a-a697-4383-986a-8cdd0aad8b1a","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":350,"duration":1400,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-1a2c3884-54f7-4f01-becb-770cca3fe610","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 86.15521%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":350,"duration":1400,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-8986ebe7-5c8e-4cfc-9976-0f3f5ce80c2e","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":100,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5387d2be-77c5-45ea-8210-1a4d37953fca","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(109.51009%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":100,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]