Vicky Kaushal reveals why Sanjay Leela Bhansali is a master of his craft: 'I go in so much more relaxed'

Vicky Kaushal

Filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali's upcoming epic Love & War stands among the most-awaited films, uniting Ranbir Kapoor, Vicky Kaushal, and Alia Bhatt for the first time in a cinematic collaboration that promises to be truly extraordinary. While SLB, as a director, always brings out the best in his actors, Vicky Kaushal, who is working with him on Love & War, expressed that the freedom of collaborating with a director who is completely in command of his craft and characters is unparalleled.

Vicky Kaushal calls Sanjay Leela Bhansali a master

During a conversation with The Hollywood Reporter India, Vicky Kaushal said, "I'm getting to learn so much".

He added further, "I just feel like I go in so much more relaxed. I don't feel the need to cement my thought process on the character so much". The actor is clear that preparation comes first, but he leaves space for discovery. "Of course, I know the character. But how to enter a scene, how to approach it, how to commit to it emotionally, that's where he's such a master," he says.

"He's a master of exploring the possibilities of what this character, or these two characters, or these three characters, could do in a given circumstance. There's so much joy and so much adrenaline in exploring, and he really makes you do that as an actor," he says about Love & War.

Vicky further highlighted a sense of creative fulfilment that stays with him long after the shoot day ends. That high, however, doesn't come without discomfort. He admitted that the process can be unsettling at first. "It's very nerve-racking in the beginning," he said, especially when the actor hasn't yet committed to a single emotional choice. "Some of those possibilities are not coming naturally, but you're reaching for them, going there," he added.

When will Love and War be released

The anticipation builds for SLB's next Love & War. It's thrilling to look forward to the monumental collaboration of Sanjay Leela Bhansali and the talented trio of Ranbir Kapoor, Alia Bhatt, and Vicky Kaushal on the big screen in the film. The film's release has currently been scheduled for March 20, 2026.