Did Aamir Khan postpone Sai Pallavi-Junaid Khan's Mere Raho to Summer 2026 to avoid Dhurandhar juggernaut?

Aamir Khan postpones Mere Raho (Sai Pallavi & Junaid Khan) from Dec 2025 to Summer 2026 to avoid box office clashes with Dhurandhar and ensure a solo window, targeting a July release.

Sai Pallavi and Junaid Khan on the sets of Mere Raho

Aamir Khan Productions' much-anticipated romantic drama Mere Raho will now not be released until later. The movie, which features Sai Pallavi and Junaid Khan, has been rescheduled from its original December 12, 2025, release date to the summer of 2026. The decision to move the release date was reportedly spearheaded by Aamir Khan, who assumed responsibility for the film's marketing strategy following completion of post-production earlier this year.

Aamir Khan's creative control

April saw the end of production for the romantic drama Mere Raho starring Sai Pallavi and Junaid. Thereafter, the makers entrusted Aamir with the film's promotion. According to industry insiders, the superstar was the one who pushed back the film's release to the summer of 2026.

There have been a lot of huge commercial performers throughout the December window, so the move is considered a strategic retreat. "December is a high-pressure corridor. Dhurandhar was big, and Aamir had preempted it. Moreover, December had another big-ticket rom-com lined up with the Kartik Aaryan and Ananya Panday starrer [Tu Meri Main Tera Main Tera Tu Meri]. Thus, it made commercial sense to declutter the calendar and avoid overlap, especially at the distribution and exhibition level," a source told mid-day.

ALSO READ: Sai Pallavi and Junaid Khan's film Mere Raho to clash with Ranveer Singh's Dhurandhar at the box office | More details inside

Assessing box office competition

Given the state of the box office as of late December, the industry's assessment appears to be correct. At the domestic box office, the Ranveer Singh-starring film Dhurandhar has surpassed the ₹700 crore barrier and is exhibiting exceptional longevity since its December 5 release. At the same time, Tu Meri Main Tera Main Tera Tu Meri starring Kartik Aaryan and Ananya Panday, was released on Christmas Day, adding to the rivalry for urban romance film slots.

People in the know say that July 2026 is being evaluated as a favourable window for urban romantic dramas, so that's when Mere Raho will supposedly be released. This revised release schedule will give the film the best opportunity to find an audience by avoiding competition from "event" films or other releases in the same genre that are happening at the same time.

Creating breathing room

"July offers better legroom for a film like Mere Raho. It needs time, repeat value, and controlled screen density. The summer corridor allows the film to breathe without the noise that comes with the festive and holiday rush," the source continued.

Sunil Pandey's Mere Raho is Junaid's second theatrical release and Sai Pallavi's first Hindi feature. Sapporo, Japan's beautiful snowy landscapes served as filming locations for the film's extended shoot. The film is a remake of the Thai hit One Day. Fans have been waiting patiently for a glimpse of the lead couple's chemistry, but the makers have stuck to their "no-promo" policy. Now that the release has been pushed back to next year, the next few months should see the official announcement and the start of the promotional campaign.

Mere Raho FAQs:

Q: What is the new release date of Junaid Khan and Sai Pallavi’s movie Mere Raho?

A: Mere Raho was originally scheduled for a theatrical release on December 12, 2025. However, Aamir Khan Productions has officially deferred the release to the summer of 2026, with insiders suggesting a potential July 2026 window.

Q: Why was the release of Mere Raho postponed?

A: Mere Raho was moved to avoid a crowded December box office dominated by major hits. A primary factor was the record-breaking success of Ranveer Singh’s Dhurandhar, which has grossed over ₹700 crore domestically.

Q: Is Mere Raho a remake?

A: Yes, Mere Raho is an official Hindi remake of the 2016 Thai hit film One Day.

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