Mumbai, July 12 — Acclaimed filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali is deep into production on his ambitious romantic war drama Love & War, starring Ranbir Kapoor, Alia Bhatt, and Vicky Kaushal. The film, which began shooting in November 2024, is slated for a theatrical release on March 20, 2026, and is already generating significant buzz for its scale, cast, and emotional depth.
Set against a wartime backdrop, Love & War explores a high-stakes love triangle between two army officers (Kapoor and Kaushal) and a woman caught between duty and desire (Bhatt). The narrative reportedly draws thematic inspiration from Pearl Harbor and pays homage to Raj Kapoor’s 1964 classic Sangam.
Bhansali has been filming emotionally intense sequences at Joker Maidaan in Film City, Goregaon, with Ranbir and Alia performing monologues from dusk till dawn to capture the raw intensity of their characters. Kapoor underwent a dramatic physical transformation, shedding 12 kg to portray a disciplined officer, while Kaushal dropped 15 kg to transition from his bulked-up look in Chhaava to a leaner frame.
Production is currently over 50% complete, with major action sequences and a climactic face-off between Kapoor and Kaushal scheduled for August 2025. The team plans to wrap principal photography by the end of the year, followed by an international shoot in Europe.
The film also features Deepika Padukone in a cameo, alongside a supporting cast that includes Ali Fazal, Nayanthara, Boman Irani, Shefali Shah, and Sathyaraj. Bhansali, known for his meticulous direction and grand visual style, is said to be personally overseeing every detail—from set design to character development.
Ranbir Kapoor, reuniting with Bhansali after 17 years, described the experience as “artistically satisfying,” praising the director’s deep understanding of Indian culture and storytelling. Vicky Kaushal, in his first collaboration with Bhansali, called the opportunity “an eternal cinema dream come true”.
Love & War is expected to be a pan-India release, with high expectations for both critical acclaim and box office success. With its blend of romance, patriotism, and cinematic spectacle, the film is poised to be one of 2026’s most anticipated releases.
