18 big-ticket Bollywood films to look forward to in 2026: From Dhurandhar 2, Love & War, King to Drishyam 3, Ramayana: Part 1

Bollywood in 2026 eyes records with sequels (Border 2 Dhurandhar 2), epics (Ramayana), and universes (Alpha) starring icons like SRK, Salman, and Ranbir across major holiday release windows.

Drishyam 3; Ramayana Part 1; King

An impressive lineup of giant sequels, high-concept genre experiments, and the continuation of prominent cinematic universes is setting the stage for a record-breaking year for the Indian film industry in 2026. After a groundbreaking 2025 that rewrote the rules of box office record-breaking, the emphasis will go to big-budget mythological epics like Ramayana and the continuation of successful series like YRF Spy Universe and Maddock Horror Comedy Universe in the next year. The 2026 schedule is set to rule every major holiday window with a combination of veteran performers and new directing ideas.

Bollywood 2026: The Complete List of the Year’s Most Anticipated Releases

Ikkis (January 1, 2026)

National Award–winning filmmaker Sriram Raghavan's biographical war drama Ikkis opens the year. During the Battle of Basantar in 1971, Second Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal became the youngest person to receive the Param Vir Chakra; the film chronicles his inspiring journey. Starring Agastya Nanda, the film differs significantly from Raghavan's usual noir thrillers, receiving praise for its realistic portrayal of battle. Veteran actor Dharmendra makes a posthumous appearance alongside Jaideep Ahlawat in it.

Happy Patel: Khatarnak Jasoos (January 16, 2026)

Happy Patel: Khatarnak Jasoos is the first feature film that comedian Vir Das has directed (with Kavi Shastri), and it is produced by Aamir Khan Productions. Since it marks Imran Khan's formal acting return after a ten-year absence, this spy comedy has been one of the most talked-about projects of the first quarter. Reuniting Aamir Khan and Vir Das' Delhi Belly energy in a new, modern structure, the film promises a blend of comedy and high-octane action.

ALSO READ: Alia Bhatt-Sharvari’s Alpha postponed; YRF film avoids box office clash with Battle of Galwan, Dhurandhar 2

Border 2 (January 23, 2026)

Taking advantage of the Republic Day weekend, Border 2 is both a spiritual and direct sequel to the cult masterpiece from 1997. Sunny Deol, Varun Dhawan, Diljit Dosanjh, and Ahan Shetty are all part of the ensemble cast that includes Sunny Deol's renowned patriotic origins in this film directed by Anurag Singh. The film is said to recreate the original's iconic status in Indian cinema by centring on several historical regiments and battlefronts with a strong nationalist spirit.

O' Romeo (February 13, 2026)

An action-musical thriller starring Shahid Kapoor and directed by Vishal Bhardwaj, O' Romeo is set to release during Valentine's Day. The film explores the seedier side of post-independence Mumbai through the story of real-life mobster Hussain Ustara. This film is one of the year's most talked-about in terms of style thanks to Shahid Kapoor and Triptii Dimri's innovative onscreen chemistry and Bhardwaj's characteristic dark storyline and musical complexity.

Mardaani 3 (February 27, 2026)

In the third installment of the Mardaani franchise, Rani Mukerji makes a triumphant return as a formidable cop, Shivani Shivaji Roy. Abhiraj Minawala directs this chapter, in which Shivani confronts a new criminal organisation renowned for "brutal" tactics. The series is known for its grounded social criticism and intense action sequences. Everyone is hoping for another action-packed storyline from one of Bollywood's most popular female-led franchises.

Dhurandhar: Part 2 (March 19, 2026)

Dhurandhar: Part 2 will be released during Eid in 2026, following the original film's unprecedented success in 2025. Aditya Dhar's sequel, starring Ranveer Singh, Arjun Rampal, and Sanjay Dutt, continues the high-stakes espionage saga. Other prominent films reportedly moved their release dates to avoid a direct clash with its pan-India debut, making this sequel the "juggernaut" of 2026 after the original part joined the ₹1000 crore club.

Bhooth Bangla (April 1, 2026)

Bhooth Bangla is a horror-comedy that reunites the successful pairing of Akshay Kumar with filmmaker Priyadarshan after a 14-year hiatus. Despite speculation of a possible delay caused by the Dhurandhar 2 craze, fans of the Bhool Bhulaiyaa and Hera Pheri era are still very much looking forward to the film. Fans of Priyadarshan's work anticipate a heavy dose of his trademark slapstick comedy with supernatural undertones in this movie.

Awarapan 2 (April 2, 2026)

In the sequel to the 2007 criminal drama Awarapan 2 Emraan Hashmi reprises a role that he is immensely popular for. Fans are hoping that the film will bring back fond memories of the actor’s early work and return to the dark, emotionally driven narrative that made him famous. Similar to Bhooth Bangla, trade analysts are closely monitoring the release date for potential changes in early April.

Battle of Galwan (April 17, 2026)

The 2020 border skirmish between Indian and Chinese troops is the inspiration for the film Battle of Galwan in which Salman Khan plays the role of Colonel B. Santosh Babu. Apoorva Lakhia directs the film, a patriotic and emotionally charged homage to the Indian Army. Salman’s "raw and impactful" military avatar and the film's high-production-value fighting sequences have garnered a lot of attention since the teaser was unveiled on his 60th birthday.

Alpha (April 17, 2026)

The first female-led installment of the YRF Spy Universe, Alpha stars Alia Bhatt and Sharvari. The film's director, Shiv Rawail, has pushed back the release date from late 2025 to give more time for VFX. Alpha, also starring Bobby Deol as the antagonist, is an important part of Yash Raj Films' strategy to demonstrate that the "Spy-Verse" franchise can transition to female leads while retaining the same level of production value as Pathaan and Tiger.

Tu Meri Zindagi Hai (May 2026)

For a long time, people thought this musical romance drama, starring Kartik Aaryan and Sreeleela, was Aashiqui 3. It was directed by Anurag Basu. T-Series has created a fresh, standalone love story with the new title Tu Meri Zindagi Hai to sidestep any legal issues that may have arisen from the old franchise. Because of Basu's reputation for crafting complex, emotionally impactful stories set to top-charting soundtracks, and because it is Sreeleela's most ambitious Bollywood film to date, it is immensely awaited.

Naagzilla: Naag Lok Ka Pehla Kaand (August 14, 2026)

With Naagzilla a high-concept fantasy adventure helmed by Mrighdeep Singh Lamba and produced by Dharma Productions, Kartik Aaryan ventures into the "creature comedy" realm. With a whimsical and visually stunning plot, the film stars Aaryan as Ichchadhari Naag, a shape-shifting serpent, and is set to release on Independence Day. It exemplifies Bollywood's current trend for fusing regional mythology with contemporary CGI and comedy.

Love & War (August 14, 2026)

The ambitious modern epic Love & War is directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali and stars Ranbir Kapoor, Alia Bhatt, and Vicky Kaushal. This is Bhansali's first Independence Day release, and rumours say it's a contemporary take on the love triangle themes from Sangam. With its visually lavish production values and stellar ensemble cast, SLB is a strong contender for the most esteemed film award of the year.

King (Mid-2026)

Shah Rukh Khan returns to the action-mentor role in King which also serves as Suhana Khan's theatrical debut. Directed by Siddharth Anand and written by Sujoy Ghosh, the film stars the superstar as a mentor who trains a young assassin. Seen as a high-octane thriller with profound emotional stakes, the film supposedly features two timelines and Abhishek Bachchan as the antagonist.

Drishyam 3 (October 2, 2026)

Drishyam 3 the "final chapter" in the Vijay Salgaonkar drama, is scheduled to be released on Gandhi Jayanti. In the last instalment of India's most popular suspense franchise, Ajay Devgan and Tabu are back for more action. Jaideep Ahlawat is joining the cast in an undisclosed role.

Ramayana: Part 1 (November 8, 2026)

In celebration of Diwali, Nitesh Tiwari's Ramayana: Part 1—possibly the costliest Indian film ever—will open to the public. A pan-Indian production, the film features Ranbir Kapoor as Ram, Sai Pallavi as Sita, Yash as Ravana, and Sunny Deol as Hanuman. It also makes use of world-class VFX. With a sequel set for release in 2027, this retelling is aiming to be the ultimate epic film adaptation.

Haiwaan (Date TBD)

Featuring Saif Ali Khan and Akshay Kumar in a thrilling action thriller, Haiwaan marks a historic reunion of the Main Khiladi Tu Anari duo after decades. Based on the smash hit Malayalam film Oppam this film by Priyadarshan stars Akshay as a villain and Saif as a protagonist who is visually impaired. The project's stellar cast and the fact that it reunites a legendary comedy/action duo in a darker, more serious tone have piqued fans' interest.

Shakti Shalini (December 24, 2026)

Shakti Shalini the sixth installment in the Maddock Horror Comedy Universe, arrives towards the end of the year. A new supernatural creature called the "mother of all" is introduced in the film, which stars Aneet Padda and Laksh Lalwani, who inhabit the same realm as Stree and Munjya. Maddock Films is poised to further establish its supremacy in the genre-blending arena with this Christmas release, following the giant success of the franchise in 2024 and 2025.

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