Highlights:
- Vicky Kaushal’s first look from Love & War is finally out.
- His rugged poster has a cigarette and forehead scar.
- The actor appears darker and more intense than expected.
- Fans are already debating whether he could play an antagonist.
- The film arrives in theaters on January 21, 2027.
Ranbir Kapoor and Alia Bhatt may have already given fans their first glimpse of Love & War, but Vicky Kaushal’s poster has introduced an entirely different mood.
The makers have now unveiled Kaushal’s first look from the much-awaited period war drama directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali. While the posters of Ranbir and Alia created plenty of curiosity around their characters, Vicky’s appearance has immediately raised questions about where his character fits into the story.
In the newly released poster, Kaushal is seen holding a silver Zippo-style lighter in his right hand as he lights a cigarette between his lips. Smoke covers part of his face, adding to the dark and atmospheric presentation.
His intense gaze is fixed directly at the camera, while his furrowed brows give him a hardened expression. He sports a thick moustache and a visible scar on his forehead. A gold ring and dark collared shirt complete the rugged look.
The makers announced the poster with the caption:
"Nazre milengi, lekin hatengi nahin! Sanjay Leela Bhansali's
Love & War on 21st January 2027 See you at the movies!
#LoveAndWar."
Is Kaushal playing the villain?
That question quickly became one of the biggest talking points after the poster appeared online.
The image has a noticeably darker feel compared with the first looks of Ranbir and Alia, leading some viewers to wonder whether Kaushal could have an antagonistic role in the film.
One Reddit user wrote:
"Gives less of a 'co-lead' and more of an 'antagonist' vibe. It's like he's the Khilji to Ranbir's Rawal Ratan."
The comparison refers to the contrasting characters played by Ranveer Singh and Shahid Kapoor in Bhansali’s Padmaavat, but the poster itself does not confirm that Kaushal is playing a villain.
Fans are already comparing the film
Other reactions focused less on Kaushal’s character and more on the overall visual style.
One Reddit commenter wrote:
"So basically Bombay Velvet + Rangoon? What a derivative Storyline."
Another viewer was less impressed with the poster itself, writing:
"Ranbir got the best poster out of the three. I don't like this one for some reason I can't point out."
With all three first looks now revealed, attention is likely to shift toward how Ranbir, Alia and Vicky’s characters connect within Bhansali’s period war drama.
Love & War is scheduled to release on January 21, 2027, marking Bhansali’s first directorial venture after Gangubai Kathiawadi.
