Mumbai: Alia Bhatt’s first look as a cabaret dancer in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s upcoming film ‘Love & War’ has sparked mixed reactions online, with some social media users calling it “unflattering” and comparing it to the aesthetics of Toxic and Bombay Velvet.
In the first-look poster, Alia is seen in a magenta-red crop top and thigh-high slit skirt, paired with an elaborate feathered headpiece that adds to her cabaret-inspired look.
While some fans welcomed the new look, others were less impressed.
Some Reddit users speculated that the poster was AI-generated or “heavily edited”, while others felt the look reminded them of characters and styles from other films.
One Reddit user wrote, “It’s giving Nadia from Toxic.”
Another commented, “(South) Bombay Velvet.”
Sharing Kiara Advani’s poster from Toxic, another user wrote, “19-20 ka farak hai.”
Another commented, “Toxic plus Bombay Velvet in every possible way.”
One user described the overall aesthetic as, “Toxic meets Bombay Velvet meets Animal that the vibe so far.”
Another wrote, “This is so unflattering. Looks like they copied Toxic for some reason.”
View this post on Instagram
A day earlier, Bhansali Productions unveiled Ranbir Kapoor’s first look from the film.
The poster featured him behind the wheel of a vintage car, dressed in a white T-shirt and glasses, with a short buzz cut.
One detail in the poster quickly caught attention: while one hand rested on the steering wheel, the other appeared bruised and bloodied.
Ranbir’s character poster received a largely positive response from fans, while Alia’s first look has prompted more divided reactions online.
Directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali, ‘Love & War’ reunites him with Ranbir Kapoor after Saawariya and Alia Bhatt after Gangubai Kathiawadi, while marking his first collaboration with Vicky Kaushal.
The period romantic war drama reportedly follows Ranbir and Vicky as Indian Air Force officers whose lives become connected to Alia’s character, with a love triangle unfolding against the backdrop of war.
Written by Bhansali and Ila Bedi Dutta, the film also stars Supriya Pathak and is scheduled to release in theatres on January 21, 2027.
