MUMBAI, India | September 26, 2026 —
Vicky Kaushal has finally stepped into the spotlight of Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s much-awaited romantic war drama Love & War, with the makers unveiling his striking first-look poster on Saturday.
The poster presents Vicky in a brooding, retro-inspired avatar, complete with visible scars and a cigarette as he looks directly toward the camera with an intense expression.
The reveal completes a three-day first-look rollout for the film’s lead cast. Ranbir Kapoor’s poster arrived on September 24, followed by Alia Bhatt’s on September 25 and Vicky Kaushal’s on September 26.
Love & War will release worldwide on January 21, 2027.
THE 60-SECOND BRIEF
What happened: Vicky Kaushal’s first look from Love & War has been unveiled.
Director: Sanjay Leela Bhansali
Lead cast: Ranbir Kapoor, Alia Bhatt and Vicky Kaushal
Vicky’s look: Intense, scarred and distinctly retro.
Release date: January 21, 2027
Genre: Romantic period drama set against a war backdrop.
Languages: Hindi, Tamil and Telugu.
Vicky Kaushal Brings a Darker Energy to Love & War
The first-look poster gives Vicky Kaushal a noticeably tougher and darker screen presence.
He appears with visible marks on his face and an expression that suggests anger, conflict and emotional tension.
The styling carries a vintage feel, consistent with the period world teased by the film’s earlier posters.
The makers accompanied the reveal with a line suggesting a character who refuses to look away, further adding to the confrontational mood of the poster.
The visual does not explain Vicky’s role, but it clearly positions him as a central force in the film’s emotional and dramatic conflict.
Ranbir, Alia and Now Vicky: Three-Day Reveal Complete
Bhansali Productions has built the first major promotional wave for Love & War around the three lead stars.
Ranbir Kapoor’s first-look poster arrived first.
He appeared wounded and bloodied in a vintage setting, immediately establishing the film’s darker war-era atmosphere.
A day later, Alia Bhatt’s poster introduced a dramatically different visual tone.
Her glamorous red costume and elaborate headpiece carried a retro cabaret feel.
Now Vicky Kaushal’s poster adds the final piece to that initial visual campaign.
Together, the three posters suggest a story built around romance, rivalry, glamour and conflict.
Fans and Film Industry React to Vicky’s Look
Vicky Kaushal’s first look quickly drew attention online after its release.
Fans praised the actor’s intense screen presence and vintage styling.
Members of the film industry also reacted to the poster.
Hrithik Roshan praised the look, while Vicky’s father, veteran action director Sham Kaushal, shared an emotional message expressing pride in his son.
Sunny Kaushal also reacted enthusiastically, while several other actors and industry figures joined the conversation around the poster.
The responses reflect the level of anticipation surrounding the project.
Love & War Is Now in Its Final Production Phase
The film has completed the bulk of its principal photography and is moving through its final production and post-production stages ahead of its January release.
The project has gone through multiple scheduling changes since its original announcement.
It was first planned for a Christmas 2025 release.
That date later shifted to 2026.
The makers have now officially locked January 21, 2027 for its worldwide theatrical release.
The timing places the film close to India’s Republic Day holiday window, traditionally considered a major period for theatrical releases.
What Is Love & War About?
The makers have kept major plot details under wraps.
However, Love & War has consistently been described as an epic romantic drama set against the backdrop of war.
Ranbir Kapoor, Alia Bhatt and Vicky Kaushal form the central cast.
Industry reports have suggested that Ranbir and Vicky may portray military or Air Force-linked characters whose lives become intertwined with Alia’s character.
However, the production team has not officially revealed full character descriptions or confirmed major plot details.
That secrecy has helped maintain intrigue around the film.
Sanjay Leela Bhansali Returns to Grand-Scale Romance
Love & War is significant because it brings Sanjay Leela Bhansali back to the kind of sweeping romance and emotionally charged visual storytelling closely associated with his cinema.
The film also creates several major reunions and first-time collaborations.
Ranbir Kapoor reunites with Bhansali nearly two decades after Saawariya.
Alia Bhatt works with the filmmaker again after Gangubai Kathiawadi.
Vicky Kaushal, meanwhile, is collaborating with Bhansali as a lead actor for the first time.
The combination of all three actors has made the project one of the most closely watched Hindi films scheduled for 2027.
Ranbir Kapoor and Vicky Kaushal Reunite
Vicky Kaushal and Ranbir Kapoor have previously appeared together in Sanju.
Their reunion in Love & War is very different.
This time, both actors appear to occupy major dramatic positions in a story driven by romance and conflict.
The early posters hint that the film may place their characters on opposing emotional paths.
However, Bhansali has revealed very little about how their relationship develops.
That uncertainty is likely to remain a major part of the film’s marketing.
Alia Bhatt Could Be at the Heart of the Conflict
Alia Bhatt’s poster introduced another layer to the film’s visual language.
Her glamorous retro styling suggests a character connected to performance or nightlife.
However, the makers have not confirmed whether she plays a cabaret performer or whether the poster represents only one sequence from the film.
What appears increasingly clear from the marketing is that her character sits at the center of the film’s emotional world.
How that connects Ranbir and Vicky remains one of the biggest unanswered questions.
Why January 21, 2027 Matters
The January 21 release gives Love & War a major theatrical window just ahead of Republic Day.
Films released around this period can benefit from extended holiday traffic, particularly when they carry strong star power and event-film positioning.
Bhansali’s reputation for large-scale theatrical cinema also makes the date significant.
The film will release worldwide in Hindi, Tamil and Telugu, expanding its potential audience beyond the traditional Hindi market.
THE BIGGER PICTURE
The first-look rollout reveals something important about the film’s marketing strategy.
Rather than releasing a conventional ensemble poster, the makers introduced the three central characters one at a time.
Ranbir brought violence and vulnerability.
Alia brought glamour and mystery.
Vicky now brings intensity and confrontation.
The result is a campaign that gives each star an individual identity while preserving the film’s larger mystery.
That is likely intentional.
Bhansali is showing the audience the characters without yet explaining the relationships between them.
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT
The next major step will likely be a teaser, motion poster or character-driven promotional asset.
With the film now less than four months from release, the campaign is expected to intensify through the final quarter of 2026.
For now, Vicky Kaushal’s first look completes the trio.
And the three posters have one thing in common:
They reveal the faces of Love & War without revealing the story.
INVC NEWS Bottom Line
Vicky Kaushal’s first-look poster has completed the first major character reveal for Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Love & War.
Ranbir Kapoor brought blood and danger.
Alia Bhatt brought retro glamour.
Vicky Kaushal has now arrived with scars, attitude and intensity.
The story remains under wraps.
The release date does not.
Love & War arrives in theaters worldwide on January 21, 2027.
What happened. Why it matters. What comes next.
