From Ranbir Kapoor’s Ramayana to Varun Dhawan's Border 2, most anticipated films of 2026

Screens will light up this Diwali with arguably the most ambitious Hindi film in decades, both in terms of budget and intent. Filmmaker Nitesh Tiwari, who gave Bollywood its biggest blockbuster of the time with Dangal (2016), aims higher this time, as he offers a retelling of one of India’s biggest epics, Ramayana. For his two-part passion project, the director has some of the best talents on board — Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Rama, Sai Pallavi as Sita, and the most exciting detail perhaps remains Yash’s Ravana. 

‘Love & War’

A sweeping story of romance, contrasting ideologies, and betrayal. An all-star cast of Ranbir Kapoor, Alia Bhatt, and Vicky Kaushal. And at the helm of it all, filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali. That’s enough reason for us to wait for Love & War. Plus, Bhansali has taken on composing duties as well, promising a movie whose score matches its grand visuals.

‘Haiwaan’

Akshay Kumar and Saif Ali Khan have reunited after nearly two decades for Haiwaan. Expect a thrilling cat-and-mouse chase as filmmaker Priyadarshan revisits his Malayalam hit Oppam (2016), reimagining it for the Hindi audience. Word is that Khan plays the protagonist with visual impairment and Kumar, the antagonist, which is a rare turn for him. 

‘Battle of Galwan’

Battle of Galwan could be a departure for Salman Khan. Unlike the superstar’s usual offerings, here, the story does the heavy-lifting. Director Apoorva Lakhia takes us back to the 2020 Galwan clash, which saw the Indian Army fighting the Chinese troops with sticks and sheer will. The story is hard-hitting, and the action, relentless. Now the question is: will it prove to be that elusive hit for Khan after a string of under-performers at the box office?  

‘Drishyam 3’ 

We know what Ajay Devgn’s fans will be doing on October 2 this year. In Drishyam 3, the superstar returns as Vijay Salgaonkar, the clever everyman who continues the cat-and-mouse game with the cops to keep his family safe. Key cast members such as Tabu, Akshaye Khanna, Shriya Saran, and Ishita Dutta reprise their roles in director Abhishek Pathak’s crime thriller.

‘Jailer 2’

Jailer 2 brings Rajinikanth back as Tiger Muthuvel Pandian, the retired prison guard-turned-reluctant action hero after the first instalment’s massive success in 2023. Director Nelson Dilipkumar’s Tamil movie includes original cast members Ramya Krishnan, Yogi Babu, and Mirnaa, with additions like Vidya Balan, SJ Suryah, and Suraj Venjaramoodu. Bonus — cameos by Mohanlal and Shiva Rajkumar. 

‘Dhurandhar 2’ 

With Dhurandhar having set the box office on fire in December 2025, all eyes are now on the second part! Director Aditya Dhar raises the stakes in the March 19 offering as Ranveer Singh’s undercover operative is still deep inside the dangerous world of Lyari and running out of clean exits. The only downside — we’ll miss Akshaye Khanna, who stole the show in the first instalment. 

‘Toxic: A Fairy Tale for Grown-ups’

Yash’s first major film after KGF: Chapter 2 (2022) is set for a worldwide release on March 19 across six languages. Directed by Geetu Mohandas and shot simultaneously in English and Kannada, Toxic boasts a huge ensemble including Nayanthara, Kiara Advani, Tara Sutaria, and Huma Qureshi. Early reports describe it as a period action thriller set against the backdrop of crime and power  struggles.

‘Mardaani 3’

Mardaani 3 brings back Rani Mukerji as Senior Inspector Shivani Shivaji Roy, the rare woman cop leading a mainstream Hindi film. Directed by Abhiraj Minawala, the third instalment tackles crimes rooted in digital anonymity and organised trafficking.  Janki Bodiwala of Vash (2023) fame is a part of the February 27 offering.

‘Border 2’

Unlike most legacy sequels, Border 2 is not the standard ‘20 years later’ fare. Sunny Deol, who led JP Dutta’s 1997 original, joins forces with Varun Dhawan, Diljit Dosanjh, and Ahan Shetty to offer a retelling of military episodes of the 1971 India-Pakistan war. What makes us all the more hopeful is that at the helm is Anurag Singh, someone who understands patriotic cinema, as evidenced in Punjab 1984 (2014) fronted by  Dosanjh, and is not interested in the usual chest-thumping montage. 

‘Peddi’ 

A sports-action drama rooted in rural India, Peddi focuses on caste dynamics and personal redemption rather than just the road to victory. Sports films succeed when they mirror social struggle, and the Ram Charan and Janhvi Kapoor-starrer seems to do exactly that!

‘Bhooth Bangla’

Best known for comedies like Hera Pheri (2000) and Bhool Bhulaiyaa (2007), Akshay Kumar and filmmaker Priyadarshan reunite for Bhooth Bangla. This time, Priyadarshan, who co-wrote the screenplay, promises a “double dose of fear and humour.” The horror comedy, set for an April 2 release, also stars Tabu, Wamiqa Gabbi, Paresh Rawal, Rajpal Yadav and late Asrani.

‘O’ Romeo’ 

The February 13 release marks Shahid Kapoor and filmmaker Bhardwaj’s fourth collaboration after Kaminey (2009), Haider (2014), and Rangoon (2017), and that alone raises expectations. The action thriller boasts a powerful ensemble including Triptii Dimri, Randeep Hooda, Avinash Tiwary, and Tamannaah Bhatia, with Disha Patani in a special appearance. The buzz is that with O Romeo, Bhardwaj has reinterpreted his story about Sapna Didi that he had originally envisioned with Deepika Padukone and late Irrfan Khan.

‘Alpha’

Bring back the spies! The YRF spy universe offers its first female-led espionage thriller, Alpha, which sees Alia Bhatt and Sharvari as elite operatives tangled in a high-stakes hunt against Bobby Deol’s antagonist. Anil Kapoor also plays a key role. The film’s release was originally slated for Christmas 2025, but later pushed to April 2026. With Bhatt joining the spy universe, Alpha looks like a bold new chapter for female-forward action movies.

‘Naagzilla’

In 2026, Bollywood goes back to one of its forgotten stories — of a shape-shifting serpent. The fantasy creature comedy stars Kartik Aaryan as Preyamvadeshwar Pyare Chand, an ichchadhari naag. Directed by Mrighdeep Singh Lamba of the Fukrey franchise and produced by Dharma Productions with Mahaveer Jain Films, the August 14 release marks the first instalment of the Naagzilla trilogy.

‘The Paradise’

The Paradise is shaping up to be one of 2026’s boldest action thrillers, reuniting Nani with director Srikanth Odela after their 2023 hit, Dasara. It’s set for a global theatrical release on March 26 in multiple languages, including Telugu, Tamil, Hindi, and English. The film follows Nani as a rebel leader fighting for a marginalised community. Reports suggest that the makers built a huge set of slums over 30 acres to tell the story with the honesty it deserves.