The year 2025 has proven to be a rollercoaster for Bollywood. While films such as Dhurandhar, Saiyaara, and Chaava roared to success and dominated the box office, several highly anticipated, star-studded ventures including Sikander, War 2, and Housefull 5 faltered and failed to live up to expectations.
A few of these solid performers pushed Bollywood’s overall theatrical earnings higher in some metrics, with India’s total box office hitting record labels. This proved that films with strong content, fresh narratives, or star power alligned with audience tastes still have high potential of delivering big.
Looking forward to 2026, the industry is geared up for new challenges with a slate of high profile Hindi films that are expected to provide mass theatrical footfalls, and potentially redefine the the commercial benchmarks for Bollywood with their unique style of storytelling and intriguing concepts. Here’s a look at the top five Hindi films to watch out for.
1. Border 2 : A sequel to J.P Dutta’s 1997 blockbuster ‘Border’, Border 2 is an upcoming epic action war film on January 23, 2026 co-written and directed by Anurag Singh. The war drama returns with the story of 1971 India-Pakistan war but expands the battlefield beyond the Army to include the Navy and Air Force perspectives. Sunny Deol returns as the central protagonist, leading an ensemble cast that includes co-leads Varun Dhawan, Diljit Dosanjh, and Ahan Shetty. The film also features Mona Singh, Sonam Bajwa, Anya Singh, and Medha Rana in supporting roles.
2. Mardaani 3 : Mardaani 3 is the third installment of the acclaimed Mardaani franchise, marking the return of Rani Mukherji as the relentless and fearless cop ACP Shivani Shivaji Roy. Directed by Abhiraj Minawala and set for theatrical release on January 30, 2026, this dark, intense action-thriller promises to be the most brutal chapter yet, with Shivani racing against time to dismantle a horrific child trafficking racket responsible for the disappearance of young girls .
Featuring a compelling woman-vs-woman showdown, the film introduces Mallika Prasad as the chilling lead antagonist alongside Janki Bodiwala in a pivotal role.
3. Dhurandhar 2 : The blockbuster success of the Dhurandhar film has already sparked anticipation for Dhurandhar Part 2 titled Dhurandhar: The Revenge, slated for release on March 19, 2026. Audiences are eager to see Ranveer Singh reprise his role, alongside the original ensemble cast, directed by Aditya Dhar. The sequel promises to continue the high-stakes espionage. It will expand the cinematic universe. The film will build on the storylines that made the first Dhurandhar film a nationwide sensation.
4. Ramayana: Part 1 : Nitesh Tiwari’s Ramayana: Part 1 is an ambitious, big-budget mythological epic film based on the ancient Indian Sanskrit Hindu epic Ramayana set to release on Diwali 2026. The film is the first installment of a planned two part series. It follows the classic epic’s narrative a young prince Rama and princess Sita whose marriage and exile begin a legendary journey of love, duty, and destiny, setting up the larger battle against Ravana. The story emphasizes moral virtues, higher ideals, and the timeless tale of Rama vs. Ravana. It stars Ranbir Kapoor as Rama, Sai Pallavi as Sita, Ravi Dubey as Laxman, Sunny Deol as Hanuman, and Yash as Ravana. The film’s music is composed by the world-renowned German composer, Hans Zimmer and A. R. Rahman .
5. King : King is expected to be one of the biggest and most talked about Hindi films of 2026, marking a high-profile reunion of Shah Rukh Khan with director Siddharth Anand after their blockbuster Pathaan collaboration. The action-thriller, produced by Red Chillies Entertainment and Marflix Pictures, boasts a star-studded ensemble including Deepika Padukone, Abhishek Bachchan, Rani Mukerji, Anil Kapoor, Jackie Shroff and the big-screen debut of Suhana Khan. Set for a grand theatrical release on Christmas Day 2026, King has already topped anticipation lists and generated massive buzz through its title reveal and first-look assets, positioning it as a landmark event celebrating Shah Rukh Khan’s enduring reign as the King of Bollywood.
By Ananyo Sengupta
