SLB's 'Love & War' starring Ranbir, Alia, Vicky to finally release on Jan 21
Mumbai, April 17
The upcoming period drama 'Love & War' directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali is set to arrive in cinemas during India's Republic Day weekend. The film will bow in theatres on Thursday, January 21, 2027.
The film stars Ranbir Kapoor, Vicky Kaushal and Alia Bhatt in the lead. The makers took to their Instagram on Friday, and shared a picture featuring SLB and the actors announcing the release date of the film.
The film is mounted on a grand scale, and is touted to be Sanjay Leela Bhansali's most ambitious romantic drama yet. With its sweeping narrative and emotional intensity, it stands as India's grandest love saga and one of the biggest romantic spectacles in Indian cinema.
'Love & War' will release in Hindi, Tamil and Telugu.
The film was officially announced in January 2024. It marks SLB's first collaboration with Vicky Kaushal and a reunion with Ranbir Kapoor after 'Saawariya' and Alia after 'Gangubai Kathiawadi'. The project has drawn attention primarily due to its high-profile casting and reported large-scale budget. The film is reportedly set against a war backdrop, though plot details remain undisclosed. Controversy emerged around its release date clash with other big-budget films, leading to industry speculation about box-office competition.
SLB last directed 'Gangubai Kathiawadi' for the big screen followed by his OTT debut 'Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar' which starred an ensemble cast including Aditi Rao Hydari, Manisha Koirala, Richa Chadha, Sharmin Segal, Sanjeeda Sheikh and Sonakshi Sinha.
It told the story of Indian courtesans amidst the freedom struggle. The series explored the cultural reality of Heeramandi, a dazzling district, through the stories of courtesans and their patrons set against the tumultuous backdrop of the Indian freedom struggle of the 1940s.
'Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar' is available to stream on Netflix.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Republic Day weekend release is a smart move. Big holiday = big box office. But clashing with other films? Hope it doesn't become a messy fight like we've seen before. The industry needs healthy competition, not cut-throat.
SLB's movies are always a visual treat, no doubt. But sometimes the story gets lost in all that grandeur. Hope 'Love & War' has a solid script to match the scale. After Heeramandi, expectations are sky-high.
Interesting that it's releasing in Tamil and Telugu too. SLB is clearly aiming for a pan-India blockbuster. The war backdrop with a love story sounds epic. Can't wait to see the costumes and music!
Ranbir and SLB reuniting after Saawariya! Full circle moment. And Vicky Kaushal in a Bhansali film is something I didn't know I needed. This is going to be massive. Just hoping the budget translates to quality on screen.
With all due respect to SLB's genius, I hope this film doesn't just rely on opulence. We need emotional depth that connects with the common audience. Sometimes simpler stories hit harder than the most expensive sets. Fingers crossed!
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