Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Love & War has been steadily revealing its principal cast, and the latest first look puts the spotlight on Vicky Kaushal. Following the posters featuring Ranbir Kapoor and Alia Bhatt over the last three days, the makers have now unveiled a striking glimpse of Vicky’s character from the much-awaited period drama.
Rather than offering a conventional full-length character poster, the first look keeps things deliberately close and enigmatic. Vicky is seen staring straight into the camera while lighting a cigarette, his face marked by deep gashes across his forehead and cheek. The intense gaze and battle-scarred appearance immediately suggest a character who has been through considerable conflict.
‘Nazre milengi, lekin hatengi nahin!’ (“You will meet his gaze, but won’t be able to take your eyes off him”) announces the caption accompanying the poster.
The image also continues Bhansali’s carefully controlled approach to Love & War. While the filmmaker has allowed occasional glimpses of the production to emerge, the larger world of the film and the identities of its characters have largely remained under wraps.
Vicky Kaushal teams up with Bhansali for the first time
Love & War marks Vicky Kaushal’s first collaboration with Sanjay Leela Bhansali. The actor, however, shares an existing screen history with both of his co-stars. He worked with Ranbir Kapoor in Rajkumar Hirani’s Sanju, released in 2018, while he starred opposite Alia Bhatt in Meghna Gulzar’s Raazi the same year.
The new film brings the three actors together in a story set against the backdrop of war in the mid-1960s. Since its announcement, Love & War has generated considerable curiosity around its premise, particularly amid reports that the film could draw from Raj Kapoor’s 1964 classic Sangam.
The makers have not officially confirmed Love & War as an adaptation or remake of Sangam. Bhansali has also maintained a notable degree of secrecy around the narrative, leaving the film’s eventual story and character dynamics open to speculation.
The first looks released so far appear to be part of that strategy. Rather than explaining the characters, the posters offer carefully selected visual clues, allowing the actors’ appearances and the mood of the film to do much of the talking.
Love & War finally gets a January 2027 release
The film has been in production for close to two years and completed its principal photography earlier this month. Given the scale of the project and Bhansali’s reputation for elaborate period productions, the film has been one of the most closely watched Hindi projects in production.
Love & War was initially announced for a Christmas 2025 release. The date was subsequently pushed to 2026 before the film was ultimately moved to January 2027. Bhansali Productions officially confirmed January 21 as the release date earlier this year.
With the first looks of Ranbir Kapoor, Alia Bhatt and Vicky Kaushal now out, the promotional campaign for Love & War appears to be taking shape. Yet, even as each poster reveals another piece of the puzzle, Bhansali continues to keep the film’s larger story firmly behind closed doors.
Also Read: Photos: Vicky Kaushal Looks Dapper in an All-white Look at Mumbai Airport
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