On one side is Ranbir Kapoor, on the other is Vicky Kaushal — two of Bollywood’s most bankable stars. Both actors, known for their powerful performances, are set to lock horns not once, but twice in the coming years.

Currently, the duo is already coming together in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s ‘Love and War’ (2026), where Bhansali has reportedly crafted several high-octane action sequences to showcase their rivalry on screen. But that’s not the only battle brewing between them.

The Ramayana connection

Ranbir Kapoor will be seen as Lord Rama in Nitesh Tiwari’s ‘Ramayana’, slated for Diwali 2026. Interestingly, buzz suggests Ranbir may also portray Lord Parshuram in the same film, making it a double role.

On the other hand, Vicky Kaushal is all set to step into the shoes of Maharishi Parshuram in his ambitious film ‘Mahavatar’. Though Vicky’s project has now been pushed to 2027, the comparisons are inevitable — both stars taking on the same mythological character in two different cinematic universes.

A box office face-off

Originally, fans were bracing for back-to-back mega releases in 2026 — Ranbir’s Ramayana during Diwali, followed by Vicky’s Mahavatar at Christmas. But with Mahavatar delayed, the fresh clash is now lined up for 2027, when Ramayana: Part 2 is expected to release around Diwali, with Mahavatar following close after.

The big question is: Who will win audiences over as Parshuram — Ranbir or Vicky?

Their history of clashes

This isn’t the first time the two stars have gone head-to-head. In 2023, Ranbir’s Animal and Vicky’s Sam Bahadur released on the same weekend. While Animal dominated the box office, Sam Bahadur won critical acclaim. The rivalry is set to return, only on a much larger scale with Bhansali’s magnum opus and the mythology-inspired blockbusters.