Vicky Kaushal has become the latest lead actor to receive a first look from Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s much awaited film Love and War. The makers unveiled his character poster on September 26, giving audiences the first official glimpse of his appearance in the upcoming period drama.
The poster presents Vicky Kaushal in a rugged and intense avatar. He is seen holding a lighter while lighting a cigarette, with his eyes directed straight toward the camera. His moustache, serious expression and vintage styling give the poster a distinct period look. A visible mark on his forehead and the overall styling add further detail to the character appearance.
The poster was released after the makers introduced the first looks of Ranbir Kapoor and Alia Bhatt earlier in the week. With all three lead actors now introduced through separate posters, audiences have received their first visual glimpse into the world created by Sanjay Leela Bhansali.
The caption accompanying Vicky Kaushal’s poster included the line Nazre milengi, lekin hatengi nahin, which can be translated as Eyes will meet, but they will not look away. The same post confirmed that Love and War will arrive in theatres on January 21, 2027.
Vicky Kaushal’s poster follows a different visual style from the earlier character reveals. Ranbir Kapoor was shown behind the wheel of a vintage car, with an injured and bloodied arm visible in the frame. Alia Bhatt’s poster presented her in a glamorous retro inspired appearance, including a dramatic headpiece and stage performance styling.
The three posters have therefore introduced contrasting visual identities without revealing substantial details about the storyline. The makers have continued to keep the characters and the central plot largely under wraps.
Love and War brings Ranbir Kapoor, Alia Bhatt and Vicky Kaushal together as the principal cast. The film marks Vicky Kaushal’s first collaboration with Sanjay Leela Bhansali. Ranbir Kapoor and Alia Bhatt have previously worked with the filmmaker on different projects. Ranbir made his acting debut with Bhansali’s Saawariya, while Alia starred in the director’s Gangubai Kathiawadi.
The project also brings together the three lead actors for the first time in a Sanjay Leela Bhansali directorial. Ranbir Kapoor and Vicky Kaushal have previously appeared together in Sanju, while Alia Bhatt and Vicky Kaushal worked together in Raazi. Their combination in Love and War has been one of the major talking points surrounding the film.
Bhansali Productions is backing the project, with Sanjay Leela Bhansali directing the film. The director is known for films featuring elaborate visual presentation, period settings, music and detailed character designs. Love and War is expected to continue that visual approach, although the complete nature of the story has not been officially disclosed.
The film has been described in reports as a period drama set against a war backdrop. However, several details about the characters and their relationships have not been officially confirmed by the filmmakers. Reports and speculation surrounding the project have circulated during production, but the released posters provide only limited information about the actual storyline.
Vicky Kaushal’s first look has particularly focused on his facial expression and styling rather than revealing a large portion of the character’s background. The actor’s direct gaze, moustache and vintage appearance create a serious visual tone, while the cigarette and lighter form central elements of the poster.
The makers have used a similar strategy for the other two lead characters. Ranbir Kapoor’s poster focused on a vintage car and his injured appearance, while Alia Bhatt’s first look used a retro performance setting and elaborate costume styling. These posters appear designed to introduce the visual world of the characters without giving away major plot details.
Vicky Kaushal’s association with the project is also significant because this is his first film with Bhansali. The actor has previously appeared in films across different genres and has taken on a variety of roles. His latest look suggests a period setting, but the makers have not publicly explained the complete nature of his character.
The release date for Love and War has undergone changes since the project was first announced. The film was initially expected to arrive earlier, but the release was subsequently postponed. The makers have now confirmed January 21, 2027, as the theatrical release date. The film is scheduled for release in Hindi, Tamil and Telugu.
The first look campaign has been rolled out over several days. Ranbir Kapoor’s poster was released first, followed by Alia Bhatt’s look and then Vicky Kaushal’s poster. This sequential character introduction has allowed the makers to build awareness around the three central performers while maintaining limited information about the story.
The response to Vicky Kaushal’s poster has also generated considerable discussion on social media, with viewers commenting on his appearance and the visual presentation. Such reactions reflect early audience interest in the film, although they should not be treated as an assessment of the movie itself because the film has not yet been released.
The first look also gives audiences another indication of the film’s period inspired visual design. The vintage hairstyle, moustache, clothing and accessories used in the poster complement the styling already seen in Ranbir Kapoor’s first look. Alia Bhatt’s poster, meanwhile, has presented a different retro visual direction.
Despite the attention surrounding the posters, important details remain undisclosed. The filmmakers have not revealed the complete character descriptions, major story developments or the relationships between the three principal characters. As a result, interpretations based solely on the posters remain speculative.
For Vicky Kaushal, Love and War represents a new collaboration with one of Hindi cinema’s prominent filmmakers. For Bhansali, the project brings together three established contemporary actors in a large scale production.
The film is now scheduled to reach cinemas worldwide on January 21, 2027. Until then, the makers are expected to continue the promotional campaign and gradually reveal more information about the characters, music and story.
With Vicky Kaushal’s first look now released, all three principal characters have received their official introductory posters. The latest reveal adds another layer to the visual campaign for Love and War while keeping the central plot largely undisclosed.
