Vicky Kaushal on Love & War with Bhansali: 'A tick off the bucket list'
Synopsis
Bhansali's most-anticipated casting coup finally has faces to match the hype. Vicky Kaushal's dual-poster reveal — fierce in one frame, vulnerable in another — wraps up a three-day character-launch campaign for 'Love & War', with Ranbir Kapoor and Alia Bhatt already unveiled. The 21 January 2027 release now has all three leads in place, and the scale of the campaign signals Bollywood's biggest bet of that awards season.
Key Takeaways
Vicky Kaushal called working with Sanjay Leela Bhansali on 'Love & War' 'a tick off the bucket list'.
Two contrasting character posters of Vicky were unveiled on 26 September 2026 — one fierce, one vulnerable.
Ranbir Kapoor's first look, showing a rugged, battle-worn avatar, was released on 24 September .
Alia Bhatt's first look in a cabaret-style wine-red sequinned outfit was unveiled on 25 September . 'Love & War' is scheduled to release in cinemas on 21 January 2027 .
Actor Vicky Kaushal has described his experience working with director Sanjay Leela Bhansali on the upcoming film 'Love & War' as 'a tick off the bucket list' — a sentiment shared publicly as the makers unveiled his much-anticipated character posters on Saturday, 26 September 2026.
Two Contrasting Looks Unveiled
The production house released two distinct posters of Vicky's character on the same day, deliberately showcasing opposing facets of his role. The first presents a fierce, brooding avatar — Vicky is seen lighting a cigarette with an intense, unyielding gaze. The caption accompanying this poster read: 'Nazre milengi, lekin hatengi nahin! Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Love & War on 21st January 2027. See you at the movies!'
The second poster offers a striking contrast, showing Vicky seated in the middle of a pool of water, holding flowers in his hands — a quieter, more vulnerable version of the character. It was this poster that carried his personal statement: 'Directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali — Truly a tick off the bucket list for me!'
A Star-Studded Love Triangle Takes Shape
The character reveal campaign has been rolled out across multiple days, building sustained anticipation. On 24 September, the first poster of Ranbir Kapoor was released, showing him in a rugged avatar with a blood-stained sleeve and a bullet mark on his shirt. The caption declared: 'Woh rutba, woh raub, woh junoon! Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Love & War on 21st January 2027.'
Earlier, on Friday, 25 September, Alia Bhatt's first look poster was unveiled — depicting her in a striking cabaret avatar, dressed in a wine-red sequinned outfit comprising a cropped blouse and flowing skirt, accessorised with feathers. The accompanying caption read: 'Aag bhi, dilon ki jaan bhi!' Together, the three looks confirm that 'Love & War' is built around a high-intensity love triangle.
What to Expect from the Film
Directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali, 'Love & War' is one of the most-watched productions in Hindi cinema's pipeline, given the director's track record of visually opulent, emotionally charged dramas. The casting of Ranbir Kapoor, Alia Bhatt, and Vicky Kaushal in a single Bhansali project is unprecedented and has generated significant industry buzz. The film is set to release in cinema halls on 21 January 2027.
The staggered poster rollout — one lead actor per day — reflects a carefully orchestrated digital campaign, keeping audience engagement high in the months leading up to release.
Point of View
One-lead-per-day poster campaign for 'Love & War' is textbook Bhansali — maximise every beat of the pre-release cycle. But beyond the marketing choreography, Vicky Kaushal's framing of the film as a personal milestone is telling: it signals how significant a Bhansali credit still is in an era when streaming-first projects have diluted theatrical prestige. The triple-casting of Ranbir Kapoor, Alia Bhatt, and Vicky Kaushal is a commercial insurance policy — any one of the three alone would open a wide release; together, they're practically bulletproof at the box office. Whether Bhansali's maximalist vision can hold three equally bankable egos in one coherent frame is the real question January 2027 will answer.
NationPress
26 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Sanjay Leela Bhansali's 'Love & War' about?
'Love & War' is an upcoming Hindi film directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali, built around a love triangle featuring Ranbir Kapoor, Alia Bhatt, and Vicky Kaushal. The film is scheduled to release in cinemas on 21 January 2027.
When was Vicky Kaushal's first look from 'Love & War' revealed?
Vicky Kaushal's character posters from 'Love & War' were unveiled on 26 September 2026. Two posters were released on the same day, showing contrasting sides of his character.
What did Vicky Kaushal say about working with Sanjay Leela Bhansali?
Vicky Kaushal described the experience as 'truly a tick off the bucket list,' sharing the statement alongside his second character poster on social media.
Who else features in 'Love & War' and when were their looks revealed?
Ranbir Kapoor's first look was released on 24 September 2026, showing him in a rugged avatar with a blood-stained sleeve. Alia Bhatt's first look — a glamorous cabaret avatar in a wine-red sequinned outfit — was unveiled on 25 September 2026.
When does 'Love & War' release in cinemas?
'Love & War' is set to release in cinema halls on 21 January 2027, as confirmed across all promotional material released by the production house.
