Vicky Kaushal's brooding first look from 'Love & War' unveiled ahead of Jan 2027 release
Synopsis
Sanjay Leela Bhansali's 'Love & War' is rolling out its character reveals one by one — and Vicky Kaushal's brooding, cigarette-lighting poster is the latest salvo. With Ranbir Kapoor's blood-stained look dropping just two days earlier and Alia Bhatt's reveal presumably imminent, Bhansali's staggered promotional play is already building a buzz around the twice-delayed January 2027 epic.
Key Takeaways
Vicky Kaushal's first look from Love & War was unveiled on 26 September 2026 , showing the actor in a rugged, brooding avatar.
Ranbir Kapoor's first-look poster was released on 24 September 2026 , featuring a blood-stained, intense look.
The film, directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali , is confirmed to release on 21 January 2027 in Hindi , Tamil , and Telugu .
Love & War was originally slated for Christmas 2025 , then shifted to 20 March 2026 , before the January 2027 date was confirmed.
The film marks Vicky Kaushal's first collaboration with Bhansali and Ranbir Kapoor's reunion with the director after Saawariya ( 2007 ).
Vicky Kaushal's much-anticipated first look from Sanjay Leela Bhansali's 'Love & War' has been revealed, offering fans a glimpse of the actor in a strikingly rugged, brooding avatar. The poster, shared by the film's makers on Instagram on 26 September 2026, signals a bold new chapter for the Bollywood superstar as he steps into what promises to be a visually grand romantic drama.
The First Look Poster
In the newly unveiled poster, Vicky Kaushal is seen lighting a cigarette, his intense gaze radiating a commanding, edgy presence. The caption accompanying the post read: 'Nazre milengi, lekin hatengi nahin! Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Love & War on 21st January 2027.' The imagery suggests a complex, layered character — a departure from Kaushal's recent historical roles.
Notably, this release follows the unveiling of Ranbir Kapoor's first look on 24 September 2026, which showed the actor in a rugged avatar with a blood-stained sleeve and a bullet mark on his shirt, captioned: 'Woh rutba, woh raub, woh junoon!' The back-to-back character reveals appear to be a deliberate, staggered promotional strategy by Bhansali's team.
The Star Cast and Their Bhansali Connect
Love & War reunites Ranbir Kapoor with Bhansali nearly two decades after the actor made his Bollywood debut in the filmmaker's Saawariya in 2007. Co-star Alia Bhatt previously collaborated with Bhansali on Gangubai Kathiawadi, while Love & War marks Vicky Kaushal's first project with the celebrated director — a pairing that has generated considerable anticipation.
A Film Twice Delayed
The road to Love & War's release has not been straightforward. The film was initially announced for a Christmas 2025 theatrical bow, before being pushed to 20 March 2026, and subsequently to its current confirmed date of 21 January 2027. The project is presently in the post-production stage. It will release worldwide in Hindi, Tamil, and Telugu.
Vicky Kaushal's Recent Filmography
Kaushal was last seen in Chhaava, an epic historical action film based on the life of Sambhaji, the second ruler of the Maratha Empire, and adapted from the Marathi novel Chhava by Shivaji Sawant. Directed by Laxman Utekar, Chhaava showcased Kaushal's range in period action — a contrast to the contemporary, intense persona now on display in the Love & War poster.
With first-look reveals dropping in quick succession and the post-production clock ticking, all eyes are now on when Alia Bhatt's character poster will complete the trio ahead of the 21 January 2027 release.
Point of View
Vicky two days later, Alia presumably next — is a textbook slow-burn marketing build, but it also reflects the weight of expectation on a film that has slipped its release date twice. The casting of Kaushal alongside Bhatt and Kapoor is inherently high-stakes: it positions the film as a collision of the old Bollywood star hierarchy and the new. What mainstream coverage underplays is that 'Love & War' is not just a marquee release — it is a test of whether Bhansali's grand romanticism can hold at the box office in a post-OTT landscape where audiences have repeatedly surprised analysts by choosing spectacle over streaming convenience.
NationPress
26 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
When does 'Love & War' release?
'Love & War' is confirmed to release on 21 January 2027 worldwide in Hindi, Tamil, and Telugu. The film is currently in post-production.
Who stars in Sanjay Leela Bhansali's 'Love & War'?
The film stars Ranbir Kapoor, Alia Bhatt, and Vicky Kaushal. It reunites Ranbir with Bhansali after Saawariya (2007) and marks Vicky Kaushal's first collaboration with the director.
Why has 'Love & War' been delayed multiple times?
The film was originally announced for Christmas 2025, then moved to 20 March 2026, and subsequently to 21 January 2027. The makers have not publicly stated specific reasons for each delay.
What does Vicky Kaushal's first look from 'Love & War' show?
The poster shows Vicky Kaushal lighting a cigarette with an intense, brooding expression, suggesting an edgy and commanding character. The accompanying caption read: 'Nazre milengi, lekin hatengi nahin!'
What was Vicky Kaushal's last film before 'Love & War'?
Vicky Kaushal was last seen in Chhaava, a historical action film about Sambhaji, the second ruler of the Maratha Empire, directed by Laxman Utekar and adapted from the Marathi novel Chhava by Shivaji Sawant.
