Bollywood bets big on 'Dhurandhar 2,' 'Ramayana,' 'King,' and 'Battle of Galwan' to revive Box Office in 2026

Highlights:

• Dhurandhar 2 set for a March release after the first film’s blockbuster run
• Salman Khan’s Battle of Galwan and Ranbir Kapoor’s Ramayana seen as major draws
• Shah Rukh Khan to return with Siddharth Anand’s King
• War films and franchise sequels expected to dominate theaters
• Exhibitors predict 2026 box office could outperform 2025 by a wide margin

After a year marked by uneven box office performance, the Hindi film industry is looking to 2026 with renewed optimism, banking on a lineup of high-profile releases featuring some of Bollywood’s biggest stars. Trade experts and exhibitors believe the coming year could mark a strong turnaround, driven by franchise sequels, war dramas, and ambitious standalone films.

Among the most anticipated releases is Dhurandhar 2, the sequel to Aditya Dhar’s blockbuster Dhurandhar, which has emerged as one of the highest-grossing Hindi films of all time. The first installment has earned over $84–85 million domestically and crossed $120.5 million globally. The sequel, which has already been filmed, is scheduled for release on March 19, and is widely expected to deliver one of the biggest openings in Hindi cinema history.

Another major attraction is Salman Khan’s Battle of Galwan, inspired by real-life events and centered on a military confrontation. The film, whose trailer was recently released, is slated to hit theaters on April 17 and adds to a growing slate of war-themed movies in 2026.

Ranbir Kapoor is also set for a major comeback with Ramayana, directed by Nitesh Tiwari and described as one of the most expensive Indian films ever made. The epic, featuring a star-studded cast including Yash, is scheduled for a Diwali release. Kapoor will also appear in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Love and War, alongside Alia Bhatt and Vicky Kaushal.

The year has already begun on a positive note with Sriram Raghavan’s war biopic Ikkis, which has received strong critical reviews. It will be followed by Sunny Deol-led Border 2, another war drama set against the backdrop of the 1971 India-Pakistan conflict, featuring Varun Dhawan, Diljit Dosanjh, and Ahaan Shetty.

Fans are eagerly awaiting Shah Rukh Khan’s return to the big screen with King, which reunites him with Pathaan director Siddharth Anand. While the film’s release date has not been officially announced, it is expected to arrive in theaters later this year.

Trade analysts say franchise films will dominate the box office in 2026, supported by high-profile standalone projects. Ajay Devgn is set to return with Drishyam 3 on October 2, Akshay Kumar will close the year with Welcome to the Jungle, and Rani Mukerji’s Mardaani 3 will release in February. Rajinikanth’s Jailer 2 is slated for June.

Exhibitors and industry executives are bullish. Many believe 2026 could be significantly bigger than 2025, with better content, stronger audience demand, and the return of top stars expected to drive at least a 50 per cent increase in box office business.