Vicky Kaushal Closes the ‘Love & War’ Campaign: First Look With Cigarette, Scars and a Gaze That Won’t Let Go

On September 26, the producers of “Love & War”, director Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s new film, unveiled Vicky Kaushal’s first-look poster — the third and final one of the three-day cast-reveal campaign, as Variety India reports.

The poster shows the actor lighting a cigarette, staring straight into the camera, with scars on his forehead and cheek, a thick moustache, a dark shirt, a gold ring and a silver lighter in hand. The caption accompanying the reveal: “Nazre Milengi, lekin hatengi nahin!” — you will meet his gaze, but you won’t be able to look away.

In the two days before, the posters of his two castmates had been revealed: on September 24, Ranbir Kapoor appeared driving a vintage car, his bruised and bloodied hand on the wheel, while on September 25 Alia Bhatt’s first look was unveiled in a magenta-red outfit with a headpiece, like a cabaret artist.

“Love & War” is a period romantic drama set against the backdrop of war in the mid-1960s. It is Bhansali’s first collaboration with Vicky Kaushal, while the director reunites with Ranbir Kapoor after “Saawariya” (2007) and with Alia Bhatt after “Gangubai Kathiawadi” (2022). Kaushal and Kapoor previously worked together on “Sanju” (2018), and Kaushal and Bhatt on “Raazi” (2018). The film is directed and produced by Bhansali, with screenplay and dialogue by him and Ila Arun; the cast also includes Supriya Pathak.

Earlier reports have linked Kapoor’s and Kaushal’s characters to the Indian Air Force, but the producers have yet to reveal full details of the roles. Principal photography wrapped earlier this month. The film was announced in January 2024; its premiere date, initially December 25, 2025, has now been set for January 21, 2027.