KING

Directed by: Siddharth Anand
Cast: Shah Rukh Khan, Suhana Khan, Abhishek Bachchan, Jaideep Ahlawat, Raghav Juyal, Arshad Warsi, Deepika Padukone, Rani Mukerji, Anil Kapoor, Jackie Shroff, Abhay Verma
Release date: Not yet announced

King Khan pads up as ‘King’ for daughter Suhana’s theatrical debut, that will probably release towards the latter half of the year. Directed by Pathaan maker Siddharth Anand, the cast of King — just look at the names on the list! — is enough to make us queue up. The title reveal video, unveiled on Shah Rukh’s birthday in November, already has more than 40 million views, with the Bollywood Badshah’s salt ’n’ pepper and ear stud-sporting look piquing huge interest already.

With a schedule wrapped up in Europe (during which SRK also sustained a hand injury), King has Abhishek Bachchan as the antagonist, with the ensemble boasting strong names like Jaideep Ahlawat, Arshad Warsi and Raghav Juyal. Deepika Padukone features in a cameo, with Anil Kapoor, Jackie Shroff and Rani Mukerji in supporting roles. Undoubtedly, the biggie of 2026.

BATTLE OF GALWAN

Directed by: Apoorva Lakhia
Cast: Salman Khan, Chitrangda Singh
Release date: April 17

Salman’s big Eid release of the year is based on the India-China faceoff in 2020 in which 50-60 soldiers of the Indian Army’s 16 Bihar Regiment, led by Colonel B. Santosh Babu, courageously fought and defeated 200-300 soldiers of the People’s Liberation Army of China. The teaser — released on Salman’s 60th birthday — offers a peek into the film, with Salman’s Army man seen galvanising his troops to take on the enemy. To know whether this Apoorva Lakhia film brings in the required attitude and authenticity or relies solely on Bhai’s star power, we will have to wait till April 17.

LOVE & WAR

Directed by: Sanjay Leela Bhansali
Starring: Ranbir Kapoor, Vicky Kaushal, Alia Bhatt
Release date: To be confirmed

Announced in 2024, Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s magnum opus brings together the as-good-as-it-gets cast of Ranbir Kapoor, Vicky Kaushal and Alia Bhatt. Ranbir returns to the SLB fold almost two decades after his debut film Saawariya while Alia marks her second project with the auteur after her National Award-winning act in Gangubai Kathiawadi. For Vicky, Love & War will be his maiden project with Bhansali.

While not much is known about the story, it is being described as a “dramatic love triangle set during wartime and focusing on two strong-willed army officers (Ranbir and Vicky), vying for Alia Bhatt’s character’s attention”. According to some sources, Ranbir plays a “twisted, grey character” in
the film.

Leaked pictures from the set give the visual and vibe of a period outing — the two men rock the uniform — and the off-screen camaraderie between RK and VK has us placing our money on
Love & War.

DHURANDHAR 2

Directed by: Aditya Dhar
Starring: Ranveer Singh, R. Madhavan, Sanjay Dutt, Arjun Rampal, Sara Arjun
Release date: March 19

Dhurandhar is still going great guns in theatres, having overtaken Chhaava as the biggest hit of 2025, and we are already gearing up for Dhurandhar 2. While we have our eyes on Hamza — aka Jaskirat Singh Rangi’s (Ranveer Singh) back story — and whether he will be able to pull off his mission even in the middle of menacing circumstances, a part of us hopes that Akshaye Khanna’s magnetic Rehman
Dakait (who was killed in Part 1) somehow makes an appearance. Is Part 3 in the making? Let’s wait for March 19.

DRISHYAM 3

Directed by: Abhishek Pathak
Starring: Ajay Devgn, Tabu, Jaideep Ahlawat, Shriya Saran, Rajat Kapoor
Release date: October 2

Ajay Devgn’s Vijay Salgaonkar returns for a thrilling ride on a telling date — October 2 aka “Drishyam Day” for those who celebrate — but a lot of the drama of Drishyam 3 has been playing out off screen: Akshaye Khanna has walked out of the film (he featured as a cop in Drishyam 2), with the makers of Drishyam alleging “unprofessionalism” and bringing in Jaideep Ahlawat. Let’s hope Part 3 — the threequel of the Malayalam original, starring Mohanlal, is also being filmed now and will release a few months before Devgn’s outing — lives up to the slow-burn thrill quotient that the franchise is known for.

RAMAYANA PART 1

Directed by: Nitesh Tiwari
Starring: Ranbir Kapoor, Sai Pallavi, Sunny Deol, Yash, Ravi Dubey
Release date: Diwali

Promising to be one of Bollywood’s biggest-ever films in terms of scale, spectacle and star power, Part 1 of producer Namit Malhotra’s epic Ramayana film blazes into theatres globally on Diwali, with the second part slated to release a year later.

Films that are going to get released this year

Starring Ranbir Kapoor as Rama, Sai Pallavi as Sita, and Yash as Ravana, with Sunny Deol as Hanuman and Ravi Dubey as Lakshman bringing up the rear, the Nitesh Tiwari-directed biggie has already won fans with its VFX-heavy teaser that promises a cinematic spectacle rarely experienced before. Filmed for IMAX and with visuals by Malhotra’s Academy Award-winning visual effects company DNEG — the people behind films from the likes of Christopher Nolan (Interstellar) and Denis Villeneuve (Dune) — Ramayana Part 1 has endless hooking points, chief of which is the presence of multiple Oscar-winning music maestro Hans Zimmer who teams up with A.R. Rahman for the film’s score.

O ROMEO

Directed by: Vishal Bhardwaj
Starring: Shahid Kapoor, Triptii Dimri, Vikrant Massey, Avinash Tiwary, Disha Patani, Tamannaah Bhatia, Nana Patekar
Release date: February 13

Vishal Bhardwaj and Shahid Kapoor collaborate for the fourth time in this Valentine’s Day weekend release that boasts a strong ensemble cast. A synopsis of O Romeo describes it as being set in post-Independence India, where the underworld rises amidst a changing city. This gritty tale promises to explore the criminal landscape of a bygone era, weaving through the streets and shadows of India’s bustling metropolis.

BORDER 2

Directed by: Anurag Singh
Starring: Sunny Deol, Varun Dhawan, Diljit Dosanjh, Ahan Shetty
Release date: January 23

Nearly three decades after Border, Sunny Deol leads the charge in the sequel, that also sees Varun Dhawan, Diljit Dosanjh and Ahan Shetty joining forces. Border director J.P. Dutta gives way to Anurag Singh for this patriotic drama whose teaser — loud chest-thumping to dodgy VFX — has evoked mixed reactions. However, for the sake of nostalgia and an ample dose of deshbhakti, we are sure Border 2 will find a sizeable audience.

ALPHA

Directed by: Shiv Rawail
Starring: Alia Bhatt, Sharvari, Bobby Deol
Release date: To be confirmed

Its release date has seen multiple postponements amid whispers that parts of it are being reshot. Alpha, the latest in the YRF Spy Universe, comes in with immense pressure on its back, what with the tanking of Hrithik Roshan-NTR’s War 2 and a large section of the audience dismissing its eye-pleasing spy aesthetics after the gritty realism of Dhurandhar, which is also set in the same genre.

However, with Alia in the lead — she enters this universe in a film that marks the first female-led spy film in the franchise — we have our hopes up. Not to mention the fact that Shiv Rawail — who gave us the stirring Netflix series The Railway Men a few years ago — is at the helm. Let’s hope they zero in on a final release date stat!

BHOOTH BANGLA

Directed by: Priyadarshan
Starring: Akshay Kumar, Tabu, Wamiqa Gabbi
Release date: April 2

Almost 15 years after their last film together, the director-actor duo of Priyadarshan and Akshay Kumar come together for a horror comedy. Releasing on April 2, Bhooth Bangla also stars Tabu and Wamiqa Gabbi and will mark the final screen outing of Asrani, who passed away in late 2025.

After Bhooth Bangla, Priyadarshan and Akshay are all set for Haiwan, which brings together Akshay and Saif Ali Khan after a long time. No release date for Haiwan has been set yet, though chances are that it could find its way to the big screen this year.

BUBBLING UNDER

Happy Patel: Khatarnak Jasoos

Aiming to deliver a spy caper with a difference is debutant director Vir Das who also stars in the lead in this madcap thriller that is produced by Aamir Khan (who also features in a cameo) and brings Imran Khan back to the screen. The goofy, irreverent trailer is a winner already.Release date: January 16

Mardaani 3

Rani Mukerji returns as tough-as-nails cop Shivani Shivaji Roy in the third film of the action-packed franchise. Shaitaan actor Janki Bodiwala co-stars in the film that is being described as the franchise’s “dark, deadly chapter”.Release date: February 27

Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai

David Dhawan plonks himself on the director’s chair to direct son Varun in a comedy caper whose title is borrowed from a song of Dhawan’s own superhit film Biwi No. 1. The film’s leading ladies include Mrunal Thakur, Pooja Hegde and Mouni Roy.Release date: June 5

Naagzilla

The Naagin IP slithers its way from screen small to big, with Kartik Aaryan stepping in to play the lead of a shape-shifting serpent in the curiously titled Naagzilla. The “high-fantasy comedy film” is directed by Mrighdeep Singh Lamba and produced by Karan Johar’s Dharma Productions. Its tagline: “Naag lok ka pehla kaand” indicates that there is the larger plan to turn Naagzilla into a franchise. Hiss or phuss? Let’s wait and watch!Release date: August 14

Welcome to the Jungle

Akshay Kumar bands together 24 actors for the third film in the Welcome franchise. With shoot wrapped up a few days ago, the makers of this Ahmed Khan-directed film haven’t announced a specific release date yet, though it is scheduled to open this year. Two dozen actors in a mad, rad comedy with (we hope) the Welcome stamp all over it? Count us in.

Which three Bollywood films of 2026 are you most looking forward to? Tell t2@abp.in