'Love and War': Sanjay Leela Bhansali's film starring Ranbir Kapoor, Alia Bhatt and Vicky Kaushal, set for August 2026 release

Filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali has finally announced the release date for his much-awaited directorial, 'Love & War'. The film starring Ranbir Kapoor, Alia Bhatt and Vicky Kaushal, has locked in its theatrical release for 2026, coinciding with one of India’s most sought-after national holiday weekends - Independence day.

'Love and War' gets its release date

The film, touted as an epic romance saga, packed with passion, pride, and conflict, will reportedly release in Indian cinemas on August 14, 2026, reports Variety. The film will reportedly be the filmmaker's first-ever Independence Day release. Prior to this, the director has often booked December releases for his epic romance tales. In fact, 'Love and War' was also initially slated for a December 2025 release. Announcing his ambitious film, and cast, Bhansali wrote in his post, "SanjayLeelaBhansali’s next EPIC saga ‘LOVE & WAR’ starring #RanbirKapoor @aliaabhatt & @vickykaushal09 See you in Cinemas on CHRISTMAS 2025!"

How 'Love and War' is different from SLB's period dramas

Speaking about the film to Variety, the director said in a previous interview, "It’s a love story that I’m making after a long time. A slightly contemporary work, different from the dances, pillars, architecture, drapes, curtains, and jewellery [of Heeramandi]. It’s a new language, milieu, and ambience for me."

Opening up about how the film was different from his previous work, he explained, "I needed [it] very much to excite me as a filmmaker to do something new, to speak of a different period, a different set of characters, and new circumstances."

Bhansali on working with Ranbir, Alia and Vicky

The project reunites Bhansali with both Kapoor and Bhatt, who he worked with in 'Saawariya' (2007), and 'Gangubai Kathiawadi' (2022). Speaking about working with the actors, he said, "It’s nice to work with this wonderful cast of Ranbir, Vicky, and Alia. It’ll be nice to see how their chemistry works. And [it is] a triangular love story, which has not come in Hindi cinema for a long time. So let’s see how it all shapes up.”