NRI Pulse Staff Report
Ranbir Kapoor is returning to the cinematic world of Sanjay Leela Bhansali nearly two decades after the filmmaker launched him as a leading man in Saawariya.
The first look of Kapoor from Bhansali’s upcoming Love & War was unveiled Thursday, offering the first official glimpse of his character in the film, which also stars Alia Bhatt and Vicky Kaushal.
The newly released poster shows Kapoor behind the wheel of a vintage blue convertible, sporting round sunglasses and a pencil moustache. His arm appears bruised and bloodied, while another image shows what appears to be a bullet wound on his shirt. The visuals reveal little about the character himself, whose identity and role in the story remain under wraps.
The reveal marks a full-circle moment for Kapoor and Bhansali. Kapoor made his film debut in Bhansali’s Saawariya in 2007, opposite fellow debutant Sonam Kapoor. The romantic drama, based on Fyodor Dostoevsky’s White Nights, also starred Rani Mukerji, Salman Khan and Zohra Sehgal.
Love & War is their first film together since.
The film also marks the first time Kapoor, Bhatt and Kaushal will appear together in a Bhansali-directed project. Bhatt previously worked with the filmmaker in Gangubai Kathiawadi, while Love & War is Kaushal’s first collaboration with Bhansali.
Details of the plot and the three principal characters have been closely guarded. The film has been described as a romantic drama set against the backdrop of war, with the relationships among the three central characters expected to drive the story.
Filming began in November 2024 and wrapped earlier this month after multiple schedules. The film has since moved into post-production.
Love & War was originally announced for a Christmas 2025 release before being rescheduled. It is now set for a worldwide theatrical release on January 21, 2027, in Hindi, Tamil and Telugu.
