Feature

The Big Screen Buzz: Bollywood’s Most Anticipated Releases

Shweta Kulkarni Darpan, 23 May, 2026

With multi-heroine entertainers clearly setting the tone for the season, and stories rooted in love, heartbreak, and messy relationships taking center stage, the coming months promise plenty of laughter, longing, and larger-than-life drama. Whether it is Pati Patni Aur Woh Do, Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai, Cocktail 2 or Main Vaapas Aaunga—all essentially sit on the premise of love and complicated relationships. And then comes Welcome To The Jungle—a film so packed with stars that counting the cast may require an interval. So, if entertainment is what you seek, Bollywood has you covered.

PATI PATNI AUR WOH DO

Release date: May 15, 2026
Directed by: Mudassar Aziz
Starring: Sara Ali Khan, Wamiqa Gabbi, Rakul Preet Singh, Ayushmann Khurrana

Continuing with his trademark brand of cinema, with comedies built around husbands, wives, the ‘other woman’ and infidelity, director Mudassar Aziz returns to familiar territory—only this time with four times the chaos. If the 2019 hit Pati Patni Aur Woh featured one man stuck between two women, this spiritual sequel ups the ante by placing Ayushmann Khurrana opposite three leading ladies: Sara Ali Khan, Rakul Preet Singh, and Wamiqa Gabbi. While the plot details are firmly under wraps, insiders claim it to be a laugh riot packed with emotions and drama. Speaking about the film, Ayushmann Khurrana says, "With Pati Patni Aur Woh Do, we are taking a familiar, loved space and giving it a fresh, contemporary twist - the confusion, the humor, and the situation comedy will hopefully make people laugh their hearts out on 15th May when the film releases in theatres.”

HAI JAWANI TOH ISHQ HONA HAI

Release date: May 22, 2026
Directed by: David Dhawan
Starring: Mrunal Thakur, Pooja Hegde, Varun Dhawan

David Dhawan is back in the director’s chair after a six-year hiatus, and he returns with exactly what his audiences expect from him—high-energy madness! Starring son Varun Dhawan alongside Mrunal Thakur and Pooja Hegde, Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai explores the archetypal David Dhawan formula but with a contemporary lens. Talking about the film, the veteran director said, “It is full-on entertainment. There are twists and turns, and a lot is happening. It is my genre, but the screenplay is new. We are trying to create more scenes, different scenes, and all that. The plot is also very interesting.” David Dhawan’s cinema may often lean into familiar tropes, but one can’t refute the fact that he knows exactly how to entertain. Expect a full-blown masala spectacle packed with laughter, confusion, and chaos, the kind that will keep audiences thoroughly hooked.

MAIN VAAPAS AAUNGA

Release date: June 12, 2026
Directed by: Imtiaz Ali
Starring: Sharvari, Diljit Dosanjh, Naseeruddin Shah, Vedang Raina

No one tells love stories better than Imtiaz Ali. With Main Vaapas Aaunga, the director returns with what appears to be another emotionally layered romance—this time set against the backdrop of Partition. Apart from its story, the film boasts a formidable creative team: music by AR Rahman, lyrics by Irshad Kamil, and a cast featuring Sharvari, Diljit Dosanjh, Naseeruddin Shah, and Vedang Raina. With Imtiaz Ali’s flair for weaving timelines, memories, and music into cinematic poetry, expectations are naturally sky-high. Describing the film, Imtiaz Ali said, “Main Vapas Aaunga is a simple story of partition time, remembered 78 years later.” Simple story or not, with this team involved, expect anything but ordinary.

COCKTAIL 2

Release date: June 19, 2026
Directed by: Homi Adajania
Starring: Kriti Sanon, Rashmika Mandanna, Shahid Kapoor

If the recently dropped first look of the upcoming film Cocktail 2 is anything to go by, director Homi Adajania has mixed another irresistible cocktail—with the right measure of love, friendship, and emotional madness. This time, the trio at the center of the storm includes Shahid Kapoor, Kriti Sanon, and Rashmika Mandanna. Like its predecessor, the film explores modern relationships through glamour, music, and scenic backdrops—but with an entirely new story. Kriti Sanon shares, “The tone and atmosphere are in a comparable realm, yet the narrative and characters are entirely distinct. There’s no direct connection to Cocktail aside from the fact that it encompasses a mix, a cocktail of emotions, camaraderie, drama, music, and stunning locations.” Expect shaken hearts and stirred emotions set in beautiful locations.

WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE

Release date: June 26, 2026
Directed by: Ahmed Khan
Starring: Raveena Tandon, Disha Patani, Jacqueline Fernandez, Akshay Kumar, Suniel Shetty, Sanjay Dutt, Paresh Rawal, Arshad Warsi

If there is one film determined to prove that “the more, the merrier” is a winning formula, it is certainly Welcome To The Jungle. Featuring over 30 actors, the third instalment in the beloved Welcome franchise is undoubtedly one of the biggest ensemble comedies in mainstream Hindi cinema. Directed by Ahmed Khan, the film promises grand sets, big personalities, and the chaotic energy that made the franchise such a fan favorite in the first place. But according to Khan, this outing leans more towards dark situational humor than slapstick comedy. Ahmed Khan said in an interview, “It’s black, dark, situational humor. It’s not a comedy. The producer always says we should not make comedy films. Firoz Nadiadwala believes in dark humor and situational humor. And of course, it’s serious cinema: not a comedy or slapstick.” With a cast this large, the fun quotient will be unlimited.

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