Bollywood is preparing for a blockbuster-packed year in 2026, with six major sequels officially confirmed and now entering various stages of production. These films are not just speculative announcements — most have shooting schedules finalized, actors locked in, and production houses already in pre-production. Here’s a complete rundown of when each film is set to begin filming, where it stands as of now, and when audiences can expect them in theatres.
Border 2
The sequel to the 1997 war film Border is in advanced pre-production under JP Dutta’s supervision. According to insider industry reports, casting has been partially finalized, and filming is scheduled to begin in October 2025. Most of the shoot is expected to take place in Rajasthan and Ladakh. Production is likely to wrap up by March 2026, with a release window targeting August 2026, around Independence Day
Mardaani 3
Mardaani 3, produced by Yash Raj Films, was confirmed in late 2024, with Rani Mukerji returning. Script development has been completed, and the film is currently in casting and location scouting stage. Principal photography is expected to start by November 2025, with shooting expected to last three to four months. The film is being planned for a July 2026 theatrical release, although this may shift depending on post-production timelines.
Dhamaal 4
The fourth film in the Dhamaal franchise has been greenlit by director Indra Kumar, and scripting is currently underway. As per crew updates, the shoot is expected to begin by early 2026, most likely in February or March, across Mumbai and international locations. Since this film is expected to rely heavily on visual effects, the release could be pushed to December 2026 to allow post-production buffer time.
Awarapan 2
After a long delay, Awarapan 2 has finally been confirmed with Emraan Hashmi expected to reprise his involvement. Mahesh Bhatt is associated with the screenplay, and the film has already entered early pre-production. Principal photography is tentatively scheduled for January 2026, with shooting likely to happen in parts of India and the Middle East. The film is targeting a September 2026 release, although the makers haven’t made a public announcement yet.
Bhediya 2
Bhediya 2 was officially announced by Maddock Films in 2024, with Varun Dhawan confirmed to return. The film is currently in the script refinement and creature design phase, which is expected to take a few more months. Shooting is reportedly set to begin in late 2025, likely November or December. Given the heavy VFX work, Bhediya 2 is expected to hit theatres in October 2026, aligning with Halloween for marketing purposes.
Drishyam 3
Ajay Devgn’s Drishyam 3 is in an active scripting phase and is being jointly planned with the Malayalam version as a simultaneous finale across both languages. Director Abhishek Pathak has confirmed that the team is planning to begin filming in early 2026, likely between February and April. It is being developed as a grand closure to the franchise. The release is tentatively planned for December 2026, although it may shift if both versions are shot in sync.
Conclusion
All six Bollywood sequels have crossed the announcement phase and are either in scripting or pre-production. While Border 2 and Mardaani 3 are furthest along and will begin filming soon, others like Dhamaal 4 and Awarapan 2 will follow early next year. Audiences can expect these big-budget films to dominate theatres in the second half of 2026.