Sanjay Leela Bhansali Gets a Rare Republic Day Honour

Bollywood filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali will represent Indian cinema at the Republic Day parade on January 26, 2026. No Indian film director has previously represented the film industry in this national

The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has collaborated with Bhansali to present a special tableau (a float or display) celebrating Indian cinema. It will be showcased at Kartavya Path (the main parade route in New Delhi).

Bhansali is praised for his films (such as Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam, Devdas, Black, Bajirao Mastani, Padmaavat, and Gangubai Kathiawadi), which blend tradition with grand scale to showcase Indian narratives worldwide. He has worked with some of the biggest actors of Indian cinema, such as Shah Rukh Khan, Amitabh Bachchan, Ranbir Kapoor, and Alia Bhatt.