Love & War first look: a bloodied Ranbir Kapoor drives a vintage car

Ranbir Kapoor's first look from Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Love & War is finally out. The makers unveiled the poster on Thursday, September 24, 2026. The film opens in theatres worldwide on January 21, 2027, in Hindi, Tamil and Telugu, so Telugu audiences will get it on the big screen in their own language.

The poster shows Ranbir at the wheel of a blue vintage convertible, with dark sunglasses and a moustache that give him a retro look. The pose is relaxed, but there is a darker hint in the frame, as his arm is covered in blood and wounds. The makers shared it with the line "Woh rutba, woh raub, woh junoon!", and his co-stars Vicky Kaushal and Alia Bhatt also posted it on their own pages.

Love & War brings Ranbir, Alia and Vicky together and is billed as a period romance set against the backdrop of war. It is Vicky's first film with Bhansali. Ranbir works with the director again nearly two decades after his debut in Saawariya (2007), and Alia joins him for a second time after Gangubai Kathiawadi (2022). Earlier reports suggested that Ranbir and Vicky play Indian Air Force officers whose lives become tied to Alia's character.

The branding on the poster points to an IMAX release. Reports say this would be Bhansali's first IMAX film since Padmaavat in 2018. Netflix is reportedly on board as the streaming partner, and the film is said to have a budget of Rs 425 crore.

The film has taken a long road to release. It was announced in 2024 for Christmas 2025, then moved to March 2026, and finally settled on its January 2027 date. The main shoot reportedly wrapped in September 2026. Fans have loved the intense new look, and many are now waiting for the first looks of Alia and Vicky.