Bollywood
Love & War Release Date: Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Epic Trio To Arrive In January 2027
BY CHRISTA LINCY
The makers of Sanjay Leela Bhansali's much-awaited film, Love & War, have officially locked its theatrical release date. Starring Ranbir Kapoor, Vicky Kaushal, and Alia Bhatt, the film is set to hit cinemas on Thursday, January 21, 2027. By picking a Thursday release, the production is looking to capitalize on a massive six-day extended holiday window, as Republic Day falls on the following Tuesday, January 26. The film will release in three languages, including Hindi, Telugu, and Tamil, aiming for a wide pan-India reach during the holiday period. While the date is now fixed, the production is currently navigating a few scheduling hurdles. Reports suggest that the film is about 40 days behind its original schedule, with roughly 10 per cent of the filming still pending. This includes the crucial climax sequence which is yet to be canned. The delay is largely attributed to Bhansali's meticulous working style and the intricate visual effects requirements. Since the story features 1960s-period aesthetics and significant aerial action sequences, the makers want to ensure a lengthy post-production phase to maintain high-quality VFX standards. Another major factor for the January 2027 date is the conflict in actor schedules. Ranbir Kapoor is currently involved in the filming of Ramayana: Part 2, while Vicky Kaushal is preparing for his next project, Mahavatar. This new release window also provides a comfortable gap between Love & War and Ranbir's other big-budget project, Ramayana: Part 1, which is scheduled for a Diwali 2026 release. To keep the look of the film under wraps, the production has enforced a very strict policy on set, including NDAs for over 500 crew members and a total ban on mobile phones during the shoot. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) The plot is rumored to be an epic love triangle set against a war-torn backdrop, with many drawing comparisons to the 1964 classic Sangam. Industry insiders describe the relationship between Ranbir Kapoor and Vicky Kaushal’s characters as a clash of fire and ice. Both play Indian Armed Forces officers, with Ranbir's character reportedly having aggressive and slightly negative shades, while Vicky plays a more subdued yet opinionated officer. The conflict arises as both best friends fall for the same woman, played by Alia Bhatt. Interestingly, Alia has already completed her emotionally heavy portions of the film. This project marks the first time that Ranbir, Alia, and Vicky will share the screen together, making it one of the most anticipated casting combinations in recent years. It also marks a significant reunion for Ranbir Kapoor and Sanjay Leela Bhansali, who last worked together on Ranbir's debut film, Saawariya, in 2007. While the initial budget was planned at ₹250 crore, the current estimates suggest it has surged to approximately ₹350–380 crore due to the extended shoot days and the grand scale of the production.
