As 2025 draws to a close, Bollywood enthusiasts are eagerly anticipating the cinematic landscape of 2026, which promises a diverse range of films, from war dramas and spy thrillers to mythological epics and horror-comedies. Several high-profile movies are already generating significant buzz, setting the stage for a potentially record-breaking year at the box office.
One of the most anticipated releases is Sriram Raghavan's Ikkis, a war drama based on the life of Second Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal, India's youngest Param Vir Chakra awardee. The film stars Agastya Nanda in his theatrical debut, alongside Jaideep Ahlawat and Simar Bhatia. Ikkis also holds special significance as it marks the final on-screen appearance of the late veteran actor Dharmendra. To maintain chronological accuracy, Bobby Deol has dubbed for his father's younger sequences in the film. Ikkis is slated to release on January 1, 2026.
Another highly anticipated film is Dhurandhar 2, the sequel to the 2025 box-office hit Dhurandhar. Directed by Aditya Dhar, the spy thriller stars Ranveer Singh in the lead role, along with Akshaye Khanna, Sanjay Dutt, R. Madhavan, and Arjun Rampal. Dhurandhar 2 is scheduled to release on March 19, 2026, coinciding with Eid. The film will be released in Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, and Malayalam, catering to a pan-Indian audience. The sequel will delve into the backstory of Ranveer Singh's character and how he became a spy.
Beyond these two, several other big-budget films are expected to make a splash in 2026. Nitesh Tiwari's Ramayana: Part 1, starring Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Ram, Sai Pallavi as Sita, and Yash as Ravan, is one of the most expensive Hindi productions ever. Sunny Deol will play Lord Hanuman, and Ravi Dubey will portray Lord Laxman. The film is slated for a Diwali 2026 release. Shah Rukh Khan's King, directed by Siddharth Anand, is another highly anticipated action thriller, marking the Bollywood debut of Suhana Khan. The film also stars Deepika Padukone.
Adding to the excitement, Sunny Deol will return in Border 2, a sequel to the 1997 war drama Border. The film also features Varun Dhawan, Ahan Shetty, and Diljit Dosanjh. Rani Mukerji will reprise her role as Shivani Shivaji Roy in Mardaani 3, a crime thriller directed by Abhiraj Minawala. Other notable films include Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Love & War, starring Ranbir Kapoor, Alia Bhatt, and Vicky Kaushal, and Salman Khan's Battle of Galwan, based on the 2020 Indo-China border clash. Akshay Kumar will star in Bhooth Bangla, a horror-comedy directed by Priyadarshan.
With a mix of sequels, biopics, and original stories, Bollywood in 2026 aims to offer something for every moviegoer. The industry is hopeful that these films will draw audiences back to theaters and generate significant revenue.
