If you’ve been following Bollywood news lately, you’ve probably heard the buzz. Shahid Kapoor’s upcoming historical drama with filmmaker Amit Rai has been shelved. But if you’ve been watching Bollywood long enough, this won’t surprise you. From big-budget blockbusters to star-studded dramas, the list of unreleased Bollywood movies isn’t short. Whether it was creative differences, casting chaos, or just plain bad luck, these Bollywood films were shelved before they even got a fair shot.

1. Takht

This was supposed to be the magnum opus. A period drama about Mughal succession starring Ranveer Singh, Vicky Kaushal, Alia Bhatt, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Anil Kapoor, Bhumi Pednekar, and Janhvi Kapoor. But despite the jaw-dropping cast and early hype, Takht got stuck. Rumours cite budget issues, political sensitivity, and the pandemic’s timing as the main reasons. Karan Johar quietly pivoted to Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani and Takht faded away.

2. Inshallah 

When Sanjay Leela Bhansali announced Inshallah with Salman Khan and Alia Bhatt, excitement levels were high. But creative differences between the star and the director led to the film being scrapped. Bhansali later made Gangubai Kathiawadi with Alia, which turned out to be a massive hit. So, maybe it all worked out?

3. Dostana 2

With Kartik Aaryan, Janhvi Kapoor, and debutant Lakshya in the lead, Dostana 2 had started filming and even released its official announcement video. But mid-shoot, Kartik was reportedly ousted over “unprofessional behaviour,” according to sources. Dharma Productions decided to shelve the entire project rather than recast, making it one of the rare sequels that couldn’t survive the off-screen drama.

4. Paani

Directed by Shekhar Kapur and produced by Aditya Chopra, Paani was set to focus on the water crisis. But the film ran into production delays and budget concerns,  and it was finally shelved.

5. Shuddhi 

This was the film that would have paired Hrithik Roshan and Kareena Kapoor after a long, long time. From Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukone to Varun Dhawan and Alia Bhatt, everyone was rumoured to be attached at some point. But after years of teasing, Karan Johar finally pulled the plug on Shuddhi, admitting it wasn’t happening.

6. Time Machine 

Aamir Khan doing sci-fi in the early ’90s? Yes, it nearly happened. Time Machine, directed by Shekhar Kapur, was way ahead of its time. But supposedly, the project was shelved due to budget issues. Another one of those “what could have been” stories in Bollywood’s vault of missed opportunities.

7. Bedhadak

Bedhadak was Karan Johar’s romantic project, starring Shanaya Kapoor, Lakshya, and Gurfateh Pirzada. Posters were out, character names were revealed, and it seemed like another glossy Dharma debut vehicle was on the way. But post-announcement, things went silent. Rumour has it that the project is indefinitely delayed.

Do you know of any other unreleased Bollywood movies?

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