4 min readMumbaiApr 27, 2026 02:00 PM IST
Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s upcoming film Love and War, starring Ranbir Kapoor, Alia Bhatt, and Vicky Kaushal, has been in the news for a few months now. The film has seen a significant amount of delay and an increase in its production budget. With all of this, Bhansali finally announced the film’s release date for January 2027. Now, a new development from the film is that senior actor Ashwin Kaushal will be seen playing Ranbir Kapoor’s father in the film. In a conversation with Siddharth Kannan, Ashwin recalled how he bagged the role.
Ashwin Kaushal on playing Ranbir Kapoor’s father in Love and War
In a recent interview, Ashwin shared how he came on board and said, “In February last year, Sanjay Leela Bhansali wanted to meet me, their set was being put up in Film City. I went there, and he greeted me. I was meeting him for the first time. That aura, he met very nicely and told me there are one or two sequences in the film. This was for another role. After I went home, the next day I got a call from his office that after studying me, SLB had thought of something else. I was then told I would be playing the role of Ranbir Kapoor’s father.”
Also Read: Sanjay Leela Bhansali confirms release date of Ranbir Kapoor, Vicky Kaushal, Alia Bhatt’s Love & War
He further added, “Rishi Kapoor was my ideal. I looked up to him as my father figure, and destiny gave me a chance to play Ranbir’s father. I told Ranbir about this… kismat bahut ajeeb hoti hai. Itne sanskaari hai, zara bhi (attitude) nahi hai apne stardom ka. Wo bahut pyar se mile (He is so well-mannered, he showed me so much love, he knew about me, and he was aware that I worked with his father in Damini. He was so cooperative).”
About Love and War
Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Love and War has been in the making since 2024. The film was initially supposed to be released this year; however, in February, a report in Variety India stated that the film was postponed and its budget had increased to Rs 425 crores. The schedule that was supposed to wrap up in 120 days was prolonged to 175 days. It was also reported that the war sequences of the film were taking longer than expected, as a result of which major bits and three songs from the film were left to be shot.
In March, Sanjay Leela Bhansali confirmed to Bollywood Hungama that 90 percent of the film was completed. He had said, “90% of Love & War is complete and that the remaining 10% will be completed in the next two months.” A source was also quoted saying, “These attempts to sabotage the project are nothing new to Sanjay Bhansali. Every time he makes a film, the same stories of delay and budget pressures are spread. The truth is, the actors of Love & War have shot for the number of days they were signed for.”
Alia Bhatt had also told Vogue Italia, “I am working on a movie currently called Love & War. It is a film directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali. We are at the tail end of filming. It has been quite a magical experience. Working with Sanjay sir is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and I am so grateful that I get to do it.”
On 17th April, Sanjay Leela Bhansali finally announced the film’s release date for 21st January, 2027. Love and War will be releasing in Hindi, Tamil, and Telugu.
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