Hindi
Buzz before the box office IMDb maps India’s most awaited films of 2026
MUMBAI: Anticipation, it seems, has its own opening weekend. Long before the first trailer drops or tickets go on sale, film fans are already voting with their clicks, and IMDb’s newly released list of the Most Anticipated Indian Movies of 2026 shows exactly where the excitement is building.
According to IMDb, the rankings are based on actual page views from more than 250 million monthly users worldwide, offering a rare, data-led snapshot of what audiences are most eager to watch. Topping the list is King, marking Shah Rukh Khan’s return to the big screen after nearly three years and a much-awaited reunion with director Siddharth Anand. Close behind is Ramayana Part 1, followed by Jana Nayagan, underlining how scale, mythology and star power continue to drive early buzz.
The top 20 list reflects India’s increasingly multilingual cinema appetite, spanning five languages. Hindi dominates with 10 titles, while Telugu claims five spots, Tamil three, and Malayalam and Kannada feature one film each. Beyond the top three, titles such as Spirit, Toxic and Battle of Galwan suggest audiences are gravitating towards intense dramas, action-heavy spectacles and real-world inspired narratives.
Star power clearly plays a role in sustaining curiosity. Several actors appear multiple times on the list, including Nayanthara, Yash, Sunny Deol, Prabhas, Ranbir Kapoor, Alia Bhatt and Triptii Dimri. Their repeat presence hints at how fan loyalty often follows performers as much as projects.
Sequels and cinematic universes are another clear trend. Dhurandhar 2 and Border 2 tap into nostalgia, while films like Alpha, Benz and Shakti Shalini expand established cinematic universes, signalling that franchise storytelling remains a powerful draw.
While release dates and box-office fortunes will only unfold in time, IMDb’s list shows one thing clearly. In 2026, audience curiosity is already running high, and in an industry where attention is the first currency, these films are winning the race long before the lights dim in theatres.
Hindi
Jio Studios, Sanjay Dutt team up to revive Khal Nayak
Rights acquired for new version, format under wraps as remake plans take shape.
MUMBAI: The villain is back and this time, he’s rewriting his own script. Jio Studios has partnered with Three Dimension Motion Pictures and Aspect Entertainment to revive the 1993 cult classic Khal Nayak, marking a fresh chapter for one of Bollywood’s most iconic anti-hero stories. The original film, directed by Subhash Ghai under Mukta Arts, was a commercial and cultural milestone, with Sanjay Dutt’s portrayal of Ballu becoming one of Hindi cinema’s most memorable performances.
Dutt, along with Aksha Kamboj, has now acquired the rights from the original creators, bringing on board Jio Studios and its President Jyoti Deshpande to steer the project creatively.
While the exact format whether remake, sequel, prequel, or a completely new narrative remains undisclosed, the collaboration aims to reinterpret the story for contemporary audiences while retaining the essence that made the original a defining film of the 1990s.
The move taps into a broader industry trend of reviving legacy intellectual property, particularly characters with strong recall value. “Khal Nayak” was notable for pushing mainstream Hindi cinema into morally grey territory at a time when heroes were largely one-dimensional, making Ballu’s character a standout.
The project also marks the film production debut of Aspect Entertainment, signalling a push towards more technology-led storytelling frameworks. Meanwhile, Jio Studios continues to expand its slate, having built a library of over 200 films and series, with more than 60 titles collectively winning 500-plus awards.
For Dutt, the revival is as much personal as it is strategic, a return to a role that reshaped his career. For the industry, it is another sign that nostalgia, when paired with scale, remains a powerful box-office proposition.
Because in Bollywood, some villains never fade, they just wait for the perfect comeback.
