From King, Ramayana to Toxic: Most awaited films of 2026
Indian cinema will return in 2026 with big budget sequels and mythological epics like King, Ramayana and Toxic. This year marks a renewed focus on scale, stars and legacy franchises aimed at dramatic spectacle.
If 2025 was about bringing audiences back to theatres, 2026 is shaping up to be when Indian cinema will again bet big on scale, stars and legacy franchises. Studios are crafting sequels, mythological epics and star-driven tentpoles designed for dramatic spectacle.
Here’s a look at the most anticipated titles expected to grace the big screens in 2026:
border 2
Expected Release: January 23, 2026
The sequel to the iconic 1997 war film, border 2 Comes with the burden of nostalgia and national sentiment. Featuring a new generation cast (Varun Dhawan, Ahan Shetty, Diljit Dosanjh) along with Sunny Deol, the film aims to reinvent the patriotic war drama for contemporary audiences. Its Republic Day window places it firmly in the event-film sector.
Raja Saab
Release: January 9, 2026
This multilingual period drama starring Prabhas and Nidhhi Agarwal is set on a pan-India scale with a great story and star power, making it one of the early marquee releases of January. There are already a lot of expectations from this film directed by Prabhas to make a splash at the box office.
love and war
Release: August 14, 2026
From director Sanjay Leela Bhansali, this epic romance starring Ranbir Kapoor, Alia Bhatt and Vicky Kaushal promises sweeping visuals and intense drama. It is one of the most talked about big releases of the summer.
King
Expected Release: 2026
Shah Rukh Khan’s King remains one of the most watched projects on the slate. Presented as a stylish action drama, Shahrukh Khan will be seen with his daughter Suhana Khan for the first time in this film. Although details have been kept under wraps, the combination of scale, star power and style makes King one of the most anticipated Hindi films of the year.
scene 3
Expected Release: October 2, 2026
Drishyam The franchise has become synonymous with intelligent, cutting-edge storytelling. scene 3 Ajay Devgan’s Vijay Salgaoncar is expected to take the story into an even murkier moral territory, successfully blending suspense with emotional stakes. Given the franchise’s loyal audience, the third installment is already seen as a strong theatrical draw.
battle of galwan
Expected Release: April 17, 2026
Based on the 2020 India-China Galwan Valley clash, the film is one of the most politically and emotionally charged projects in the pipeline. headlined by salman khan, battle of galwan It is expected to focus on realism, sacrifice and national duty, tapping into audiences’ appetite for ground-breaking military dramas.
Ramayana
Expected Release: Diwali 2026 (Part 1)
One of the most ambitious Indian projects ever, Ramayana Featuring Ranbir Kapoor, Sai Pallavi, Sunny Deol, Yash among others, the epic aims to bring the epic to the big screen with cutting-edge visual effects and an all-India cast. With renewed interest in mythological cinema, the film’s scale, cultural resonance and technical promise make it a defining release for the year.
Dhurandhar 2
Expected Release: March 19, 2026
After the success of stalwartThe sequel to the Ranveer Singh starrer will expand its espionage-driven universe with higher stakes and bigger action set pieces. Designed as a mass entertainer with pan-India ambitions, Dhurandhar 2 It is being positioned as a festival-release.
Alpha
Expected Release: 2026
Yash Raj Films’ first female-led espionage film marks a significant change in its popular espionage universe. Starring Alia Bhatt and Sharvari, Alpha is awaited for its action quotient and its attempt to redefine the genre through a women-centric lens.
macho 3
Expected Release: February 27, 2026
Rani Mukerji returned as Shivani Shivaji Roy in the third installment of the Gritty Cop franchise. Known for tackling social crimes with a harsh approach, Mardaani 3 remains one of Bollywood’s most consistent female-led action series.
jailer 2
Expected Release: Mid 2026
With Jailer emerging as one of Rajinikanth’s biggest blockbusters in recent years, there are huge expectations from the sequel. Directed by Nelson Dilipkumar, jailer 2 It promises to take a big step up on action, swagger and all-India appeal. The buzz in the industry surrounding the surprise cameos and the larger-than-life story has only fueled the anticipation, making it one of the sure-fire crowd-pullers of the year.
Toxic: A Fairy Tale for Adults
Expected Release: March 19, 2026
Yash’s next film after KGF, directed by Geetu Mohandas, is one of the most interesting projects in the list. Dark, stylish and positioned as a pan-world release, Toxic is expected to push the boundaries of mainstream Indian storytelling.
There are also movies like Nagazilla, Shakti Shalini, Wolf 2among others, which are in the pipeline for release this year. However, their release dates remain unclear.
From mythological epics and war dramas to legacy sequels and star-led action, 2026 shows an industry that is ready to reclaim the big screen experience. With cinemas turning to spectacle and audiences seeing a renewed appetite for event cinema, the coming year could mark a decisive shift towards scale-driven storytelling.
