Toxic, Aadu 3, Drishyam 3: US-Israel-Iran war casts shadow over much-awaited Indian film releases in Gulf?
Three much-anticipated films Toxic, Aadu 3 and Drishyam 3 are set to release in the coming weeks. Will the US-Israel-Iran war affect the release of these films in the Middle East?
Last Updated: 06.10 PM, Mar 03, 2026
Indian movies, especially Malayalam cinema, have always looked to the Gulf region as a major contributor to their profit shares. After a relatively dull phase in the first two months of 2026, the film industry is looking to get a jumpstart in the box office earnings with the arrival of much-anticipated movies such as Toxic on March 19. However, these plans have met with a serious setback amid the escalating tension in the Middle East over the US-Iran and Israeli conflict.
Which are the upcoming movie releases
The big clash at the box office this year is on March 19, between Yash-starrer Toxic and Ranveer Singh’s Dhurandhar 2, with both fans and industry trackers keen on seeing who is going to emerge the winner. Directed by Malayalam filmmaker Geetu Mohandas, Toxic is set for a big global release, including a wide release in the Gulf. Phars Film has taken up the distribution of Toxic in the Gulf countries. Kannada star Yash is best known for his KGF films, with Chapter 2 grossing around Rs 68.50 crore from the Gulf, as per a report on the Indian Express.
In its clash with Dhurandhar 2, Toxic would be seeking to make the most gains from the GCC countries, as the Hindi film is unlikely to turn up as a competitor there. Though the first part of the Hindi film was a roaring success, Dhurandhar did not release in the Gulf after facing a GCC ban. There is no confirmation on whether Dhurandhar 2 will get a Gulf release. In such a scenario, the Toxic makers would not want to lose out on the Gulf earnings.
The other film releasing on March 19 is the Malayalam movie Aadu 3, starring actor Jayasurya. Though not in the same league of these two pan-Indian movies, Aadu 3 is expected to appeal to the Malayali diaspora in the Middle East countries and hence would be looking for a hassle-less release.
The fourth big film is Drishyam 3, starring superstar Mohanlal, which is undoubtedly the most-awaited Malayalam film of the year. Helmed by Jeethu Joseph, Drishyam 3 will hit theatres worldwide on April 2. Much like cinephiles in Kerala, fans of the thriller franchise in the Middle East would be eagerly awaiting the film's release to know what new challenge Georgekutty will have to tackle in the third instalment.
As of now, there is no official update on whether the releases would be affected in any way. Gulf News has also reported that film releases will happen in the UAE as per schedule.
Upcoming movie releases FAQs
Q. Which are the major upcoming releases
A. Kannada film Toxic, starring Yash, and the Hindi movie Dhurandhar 2, starring Ranveer Singh, are the major upcoming releases on March 19, 2026.
Q. Is Dhurandhar 2 releasing in the Gulf?
A. Dhurandhar, which was released in 2025, was banned in six Gulf countries. Currently, there is no update on whether Dhurandhar 2 will release in the Gulf.