After months of speculation, the makers of Toxic: A Fairytale For Grown-Ups have finally locked a new release date. Headlined by Yash, also starring Kiara Advani, and directed by Geetu Mohandas, the pan-India action spectacle will now hit theatres worldwide on August 26.

While Toxic arrives on a Wednesday, coinciding with Onam and giving it a two-day head start before the weekend, it will still face competition at the box office. On August 28, three other films — Khosla Ka Ghosla 2, Shraddha Kapoor’s Eetha and Sidharth Malhotra’s Vvan — are currently slated to release, setting up one of the busiest weekends on the 2026 release calendar. Interestingly, if the films release as planned, real-life couple Sidharth and Kiara will see their films clash at the box office.

Toxic was originally slated for an earlier release before undergoing several date changes. Industry buzz linked one of the shifts to a crowded release calendar and a clash with Ranveer Singh’s Dhurandhar The Revenge, which eventually secured the March 19 release slot. Toxic was later set for a June 4 release, but Yash confirmed in April that the team needed more time to align its global distribution strategy and international partnerships ahead of its worldwide rollout.

Akkshay Rathie, Director, Ashirwad Theatres Pvt Ltd, believes the situation remains fluid and that producers may still rethink their release strategies. “Two films with the ability to create a significant impact across the length and breadth of India ideally shouldn’t arrive together because every stakeholder wants to optimize revenues. Toxic is undoubtedly the bigger pan-India film in terms of geographical reach. Eetha may have stronger relevance in Maharashtra and certain markets, but Toxic has the potential to perform across urban as well as rural India,” he says.

Rathie adds that the announcement has caught the industry off guard and could trigger further movement on the release calendar. “This announcement has come completely out of the blue. There is still time and everyone will do whatever it takes to protect the best interests of their respective films,” he explains.

Kamal Gianchandani, CEO, PVR, believes that even if the clash is not averted, four films can be accommodated. He shares, “Cinemas have enough and more capacity to accommodate three or more films, especially when the movies are varied in sizes. We’ll see what decision other producers take on their release dates, because they often go back to the drawing board and rethink their dates.”

Sameer Munshi, VP, Miraj Entertainment Ltd, adds, “From an exhibitor’s perspective, this is a good clash to have. A packed release calendar indicates confidence in the theatrical business and gives audiences more choice. If the content works, all films can find an audience, even though Toxic is likely to be the clear opening-weekend leader.”

Deepak Mishra, director of Vvan, confirms that the movie is set to release on August 28, on the occasion of Raksha Bandhan. On the clash, he says, “We are the same industry. As artistes, we all want to showcase our work well. Eventually, the audience is the king. My best wishes to the Toxic team.”

When asked if there is a possibility that Vvan could be pushed to another date, Mishra says, “That will be a call that the makers will take. I am only focused on my work.”

Kiara Advani didn’t witness stardom overnight, but when success finally found her, it arrived loud, big and impossible to ignore. The actress, who will be seen next in Toxic: A Fairy Tale For Grown-Ups, seems more grounded and emotionally evolved than ever in this phase of her life. On the Rustomjee presents Bombay Times Lounge, Kiara spoke with striking honesty about the challenges, breakthroughs and defining moments of her journey, but it was her thoughts on motherhood and postpartum life that truly stayed with us. From the emotional chaos new mothers experience to the pressure on women to “bounce back,” Kiara’s words were raw, warm and deeply relatable. The episode is now live on the Bombay Times YouTube channel.

I think there are times in life when you think you know where you’re going, and then life just takes you somewhere else. When I entered the industry with my first film, I thought, okay, I got this. But I soon realized that every Friday has a new outcome. Whether you’re on top of your game or you’re starting out, it’s the same situation – either there are too many choices, so you don’t know what to choose from, or there is a lack of choice. Like you said, for me, it was a slow start. I didn’t see overnight success or quick fame, but now I feel grateful for that, because the experiences in those initial years really grounded me and helped me hold my feet to the ground through every up and down.

Yes, but I feel like that jittery feeling is still there. Even when you have the biggest films or a dream role, you get jitters because at the end of the day, you’re making movies for a wide audience. As much as actors say that we’re not always seeking validation, we are. I’m not making movies just for me to sit at home and watch. I want the audience to watch it and love it. So, validation does matter, and that’s where the jitters come in. But for most part, it’s always Friday jitters. When you’re making the film, the confidence level is high, and the excitement is high, because you know you’re making a good movie, you wouldn’t be a part of a movie that’s not good, right? And then comes Friday, and with it, the jitters.

I don’t think people really prepare you for that. Now that I have been through postpartum for so many months, I can probably make light of it. I tell all my friends who have already had babies that you all didn’t prepare me for this, though I know that this is such an individual journey. No one talks about the guilt you feel, the chaos outside you and inside you. Initially, it’s the chaos inside you because biologically, there are so many changes that you go through, your hormones are crashing and your mental space is somewhere else. It’s simply life-changing. I don’t think life-changing has a more apt example than this – the transition into motherhood. That’s the way nature has made this – no matter how much change it brings to a father’s life, for the woman it’s that much more because she is the nutrition of the baby, the one carrying the baby, delivering the baby and then feeding the baby. So, there’s no denying what a mother’s role is in a child’s life, and the fact is that the chaos is also very real. The best way to get through it is by supporting women around you. I feel the most successful women today are those who are supported by other women.

The experience is so enriching in every way; I feel directors who will work with me now, will get the best version of me. This journey (of motherhood) has opened a new side to me, to my life and to my understanding of the world. The earlier part of your question when you spoke about conversations about women getting back to work – it’s true. And what is interesting is that – when you’re pregnant, everyone goes like, ‘Oh my God, you’re glowing, this, that.’ And the minute you’ve had a baby, it changes to, ‘Abhi moti lag rahi hai, thodi yeh lag rahi hain, thodi woh lag rahi hain.’ When you are pregnant, you are this devi and the minute you deliver the baby, they expect you to be back in shape and back on track. But the hardest part for the woman is after. That is the part where she needs support. They say it takes a village to raise a baby. It takes a village to raise a mother. That is the time you need to nurture this woman who is now adapting to a whole new role in her life and figuring out how she’s going to balance her identity and play the role of a mother, daughter, wife. I must thank all the women before me who’ve done this and made it look easy and the ones who have laid the foundation for us. I think each one of us will now make it easier for the next one to come.

Oh yes! It is Saraayah’s house and Sidharth and I live in it. Basically, her toys and playmats are everywhere, and we are living around it.

Having worked with stars like Ram Charan, Mahesh Babu and now Yash in the upcoming film Toxic, when asked how different the working culture in the South industry is compared to Bollywood, Kiara said, “There may be slight cultural differences, but at the core, we’re all Indians, so there’s a similarity. Sometimes when we are working with bigger stars in the South, we have a six o’clock pack up, which is great (laughs). That apart, I feel that I’ve had a fairly similar experience with working in Hindi and Telugu films. Toxic (Kannada) has been challenging because for the first time we shot in both English and Kannada. I would literally mug up my dialogues the previous night of the shoot. All the ratta maroing (mugging up) I did back in school, came to good use.

April brought us the first look of Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Rama in Ramayana: Part One. Since then, fans have been waiting eagerly for Yash’s avatar as Ravana in filmmaker Nitesh Tiwari’s magnum opus. On his part, the Kannada star has doubled down on his commitment to what could be one of his most complex roles. We’ve heard that since early April, Yash has been shooting for a performance-heavy stretch of Ramayana: Part Two, focusing on the portions that take us into Ravana’s internal world.

Through these portions, the makers apparently intend to depict Ravana as a fully formed character, not a one-note villain.

A source shared, “These aren’t typical villain scenes. They are written as extended monologues, almost like Ravana is reasoning with himself. The idea is to let the audience understand how he sees the world before they judge his actions.” 

The past three weeks’ shoot at the elaborate set in Film City, Goregaon, has been centred on Yash. He took a brief break in the second week of April to fly to the US for CinemaCon 2026, where he presented glimpses of Toxic: A Fairy Tale For Grown-ups and Ramayana. Understanding the importance of these sequences, the director has been taking his time with them.

The source added, “If the audience doesn’t connect with Ravana here, the impact of everything that follows gets diluted. The writing doesn’t try to soften him, but it presents his point of view.”

In June, Kapoor and Sunny Deol are expected to join the schedule as the production moves to confrontation sequences.

On Wednesday, Yash announced that his film Toxic: A Fairy Tale For Grown-ups , which was slated for a June 4 release, has been further delayed. Some weeks ago, to avoid a clash with Toxic, David Dhawan’s next, Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai, was pushed to June 12.

In an online post, Yash, without revealing his new release date for Toxic , said, “We will release the film at a later, globally aligned date.” With this new turn of events, David Dhawan’s film is back to its original release date, June 5.

Talking about this, Ramesh Taurani, producer of Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai , told us, “Yash and Varun are good friends. They got closer when Yash first announced that they have delayed their release to June 4. Their original release date was clashing with Dhurandhar The Revenge. Toxic ’s revised release date was slated a day before our film, so at that point we decided to release our film on June 12.”

Taurani further added, “Yash had told Varun that if there’s any further change, he will let him know. As soon as they decided to push it further, he informed Varun, and we decided to go back to our original release date, June 5. We had chosen this date eight months ago, so we are glad we got it back.”

The teaser of Toxic: A Fairy Tale for Grown-Ups, released in February, sparked backlash over its bold scenes, but lead actor-producer Yash is standing by director Geetu Mohandas’ vision, calling it a rare “female gaze” in action cinema.

Speaking to American content creator and host Sabeen Faheem at CinemaCon earlier this month, Yash acknowledged that large-scale action films in India have “historically” been led by male directors, adding, “A gangster film with a female gaze is something very new and refreshing.”

He also praised Geetu’s storytelling, saying, “Her thoughts are very clear… The way a woman presents desire, romance or sensuality is entirely different. I’ve realized that in this journey.”

The controversy intensified after the introducing Raya video, especially a graphic scene involving a bomb, car and cemetery, drew criticism and even a complaint from the National Christian Federation.

Responding to the outrage, Geetu addressed it with a cryptic post on her Instagram that read, “Chilling while people figure out female pleasure, consent, women playing systems, etc.”

Toxic is scheduled to hit the theatres on June 4.

What will be the international audience’s verdict? That’s what many were wondering as filmmaker Nitesh Tiwari readied to take Ramayana: Part One to CinemaCon 2026. With the latest edition of CinemaCon kicking off yesterday, it turns out the Ranbir Kapoor and Yash-led magnum opus isn’t the only Indian film on the slate. Yash has gone to the Las Vegas exhibition with another of his ambitious movies — Toxic: A Fairy-tale For Grown-ups.

CinemaCon is among the biggest international film exhibitions known for connecting filmmakers and distributors from around the world. Taking director Geetu Mohandas’s movie to the event shows the actor’s ambition for the project.

A source shared, “Yash flew out over the weekend and will be in the US for a week, starting the first round of promotions for Toxic.”

The teams of both movies plan to unveil early footage and promotional material. The source added, “Both Toxic and Ramayana are mounted on a large scale, and CinemaCon provides the right stage to position them internationally.”

With Toxic—headlined by Yash— being pushed from it's original release date, [people started speculating that the change in the release timing was due to the alleged box-office competition with Dhurandhar The Revenge. Amid speculation over whether the film has been pushed to avoid a clash, Huma Qureshi addresses the noise, maintaining that such decisions are best left to the makers.

Speaking about the film’s delay, she says, “I’m of course very excited Toxic to come out, but I think the timing of these things has to be correct. And I’m sure, like, this decision made with a lot of like, thought behind it and whenever it comes out, I’m sure audiences are going to love it and have a great time.”

On the speculation and negative PR chatter around the film, Huma remains unfazed: “I don’t think about it. I. I feel like my job as an artist is to do work and the audiences have every right to receive it the way they intend to. But I mean, if I start only listening to other people and what they’re saying and thinking, then I won’t be able to do my job.”

She adds that she consciously distances herself from the noise post work. She adds, “So honestly, I do my thing and then I check out. I fully check out. Like, I’ve done my acting, I’ve done what I’m as a professional, what I’m supposed to do, and then I go off and I don’t like to read everything. I feel like reading every comment and reading every opinion and reading whatever just in a way just cripples you from doing something. As an artist, you have to be free and keep your energy really open and you can’t always predict how people are going to respond to something, so you shouldn’t do that.”

The actor also hints at a packed slate ahead. “There are like five releases now, which I’ve shot for already. I mean, some of them we can’t talk about, but the ones that you know are there, whether it’s a Toxic or it’s a Baby Do Die Do, which is a home production… that Saqib Saleem and I have produced under our banner Saleem Siblings," she signs off.

Huma Qureshi sports a radiant glow in white ethnic wear as she celebrates Eid with a special shoot for us. For her, it isn’t merely a festival; it’s a feeling, a ritual of togetherness, and a gentle reminder of all that truly matters.

While this year, it’ll be a celebration at home, among her fondest memories is a chaotic, joy-filled Eid from her college days. “I came home late, and 17 of my girlfriends had already landed. The food had gone cold, but no one cared. We just sat and ate thanda khana – biryani, korma – while my mother kept yelling at us,” she recounts.

Talking about what Eid signifies for her, Huma says, “Sharing with friends, family, people around you, your community, and perhaps people who are less privileged than you are. Ramzan is a month when we do a lot of things – whether it’s iftar or just sharing whatever we’re eating and opening our table out to friends and others. I think it’s a very important part of who we are as a family. I have a bunch of friends whom I don’t even need to invite. If it’s Eid, they’ll come home. The relationship is not just with me, but also with my family and mother. They want to have uske haat ka khana.”

For Huma, Ramzan is less about grand gestures and more about mindful pauses. “We often forget to take a moment, pause and be genuinely grateful for what we have in our daily life,” she says.

For Huma, Eid fashion was serious business growing up. “What will I wear? Salwar kameez or lehenga? It was a proper discussion when I was a kid,” she laughs. Then came the real highlight – eidi. “All of us cousins would stand in a line after namaz and collect money from every elder. Then we’d try to sneak back in again. The day would end with counting, comparing and of course, chocolates.”

Eid memories for Huma cannot be complete without her actor-brother, Saqib Saleem. She shares, “I remember stealing his money! We would have lots of fights over chocolates, because he would save them and I would finish mine.” Cooking, she admits candidly, is not her strength. “Unfortunately, I have not learned how to make a good biryani, but I definitely know where to find a good biryani and to appreciate it. That’s also an art,” she says with a grin.

Yash: The film Toxic, I’ve already got my Eidi.

Saqib Saleem: Undivided attention and time

Nawazuddin Siddiqui: Already got my Eidi—we’ve worked together

Farah Khan: I don't want any Eidi from her. She sends me so much food like every week. Maybe she should stop sending me so much food! (Laughs)

Rachit Singh: A free acting workshop. He is the best.

Tara Sutaria: She should just keep smiling all the time. She has a gorgeous smile.

Mumbai: After a string of underwhelming Bollywood sequels — War 2, Dhadak 2, Mastiii 4, Jolly LLB 3 and De De Pyaar De 2 — the industry is watching whether Dhurandhar 2 can buck the trend. Exhibitors and distributors are citing strong early demand that suggests the film could break the jinx at a time when Bollywood is grappling with box office volatility and old formulas that are no longer working.

According to film trade analysts, the film will release in India on 5,000–5,500 screens and is likely to record Rs 75-80 crore in collections on opening day, March 19.

Audience appetite has been whetted by the blockbuster success of espionage actioner Dhurandhar, directed by Aditya Dhar and starring Ranveer Singh, Akshaye Khanna, Sanjay Dutt and others. Released in 2025, Dhurandhar is one of the biggest films ever, having grossed Rs. 1005.8 crore in India alone and close to Rs. 300 crore in the overseas markets, according to box office data research firm Sacnilk.

In overseas markets, the sequel has generated advance or pre-release ticket sales worth $800,000.

“This is not an ordinary sequel. Audiences have already bought tickets worth more than Rs 5 crore for preview shows (March 18) alone,” said Shaaminder Malik, a film distributor and trade analyst. “They don’t want to know spoilers before their theatre experience. Tickets are being sold in a premium price range of Rs 300 to Rs 2,500 for a four-hour film. This shows the audience’s eagerness.”

Experts said Dhurandhar 2 is a proper tentpole release expected to drive significant box-office momentum.

“It is already reflected in its ticket sales,” said Gautam Dutta, CEO, revenue and operations, PVR Inox. “It will be the biggest release in terms of screens in India. In fact, a comforting factor is that the film has at least two weeks with no major release, which means the scope for record collections is high.”

Optimism about Dhurandhar 2’s performance increased recently with the release of Toxic: A Fairy Tale For Grown-Ups being delayed--it was to have debuted on the same day.

“The postponement of Toxic: A Fairy Tale For Grown-Ups has effectively cleared the competitive landscape for Dhurandhar 2,” said Suniel Wadhwa, co-founder and director, Karmic Films. “When two highly awaited big films don’t clash, exhibitors typically allocate 40–50% more premium screens and show slots to the releasing film, which can materially strengthen its opening-day collection. In theatrical economics, clashes create headlines, but clear release windows create box office records.”

Dhurandhar 2 will be dubbed in all four southern languages, unlike the original, which was released only in Hindi.

“The sequel is dubbed in multiple southern languages, which broadens its reach in the southern territories, thereby significantly boosting its India collections by at least 25–30%,” said producer Rajesh R Nair. Screen density, especially single-screen halls, and overall screen share (over 50%) in the southern markets is higher than in the rest of India.

Conservative estimates by trade analysts suggest the film could record an opening weekend collection of Rs 250-300 crore.

“In the absence of competition, I think the film’s collections could easily be boosted by at least 25%,” said Girish Johar, film producer and industry expert. “Given the high audience interest, I foresee an opening weekend collection of Rs 300 crore for the film.”

Yash’s much-anticipated action drama Toxic has a new date at the box office. For weeks, conversations around a potential clash between two big films — Toxic and Dhurandhar 2 — had been intensifying. On Thursday morning, the makers of Toxic announced that the film will skip its March 19 release date and instead hit screens on June 4, citing the ongoing crisis in the Middle East.

An official statement from KVN Productions and Monster Mind Creations read: “Filmed in Kannada and English, Toxic: A Fairy Tale for Grown-ups is a film created for a global audience. We were excited to share our film with you all on March 19. However, the current uncertainty in the Middle East impacts our goal to connect with the widest possible audience. Therefore, in the interest of our partners and our audience, Toxic: A Fairy Tale for Grown-ups will now be released in cinemas across the globe in English and Indian languages on June 4, 2026 (sic).”

While exhibitors believe there is space for multiple releases in theatres, averting a clash is often the best-case scenario for tentpole films.

“We have enough capacity for two films to co-exist. As far as exhibitors are concerned, handling the maara-mari that happens during screen sharing is part and parcel of our job, but overall, this does make everyone’s life more comfortable. I don’t think the reason to push the release of Toxic is an excuse. Yash is a big star in the Middle East, so it’s a fair decision. Dhurandhar 2 is 3 hours 55 minutes long, so now we can give it four slots easily. Since Dhurandhar never released in the Middle East, it won’t be affected anyway,” explains Kamal Gianchandani, CEO, PVR Pictures Limited, and President of the Multiplex Association of India (MAI).

Some exhibitors, however, believe the delay may have more to do with the looming box-office clash. Manoj Desai, Executive Director of G7 and Maratha Mandir, says, “As far as Toxic’s delay is concerned, the Middle East feels like an excuse. Dhurandhar 2 is one of the reasons, if not the only reason. However, I do think this is a good decision as the public won’t be divided.”

Speaking about Dhurandhar 2’s runtime, he adds, “The first film was 3 hours 34 minutes long, and now the second one is 3 hours 55 minutes. We can only have three shows a day in single screens, which itself is our loss. Our standard show timings are 12 pm, 3 pm, 6 pm and 9 pm. If a film is four hours long, with an interval, it becomes almost four and a half hours.”

Talking about how the industry stands to gain from spacing out big-ticket releases, Akkshay Rathie, Director, Ashirwad Theatres Pvt Ltd, says, “This will benefit both films by at least Rs. 75–100 crore of net box office business, which would have eroded from their collections had they come together. This puts us in a good state because it allows every quarter to have something big — Dhurandhar 2 in March, Bhoot Bangla in April and Toxic in June. Big films spreading out over months always helps the business.”

An exhibitor on condition of anonymity revealed how screen-sharing is a major issue when two big films go head to head. “Revenue share is never an issue between the producers and the exhibitors, that all is pre-decided. Bigger issue is screen sharing. It can get ugly as both films will demand more screens and prime time. The audience is also unlikely to watch two big films in the same week as going out for a movie is not cheap, especially with big families. By averting clash with Dhurandhar, Toxic has made sure that they don’t eat into each other’s business. No one will go on record saying they were not confident about clashing with Dhurandhar so the middle east excuse. Everyone wants to save their face and wants an upper hand.”

Ashish Kanakia, CEO, Moviemax Cinemas said, "The decision has been taken by the producers in view of the current situation in the Middle East, and averted clashes are naturally in the best interest of both producers and exhibitors. Both Toxic and Dhurandhar are highly anticipated, large-scale films with strong audience interest. Two major releases arriving on the same date is not ideal in the present scenario; with Toxic now moving to 4th June, we believe the business prospects for both films will be stronger, which is ultimately a positive for the industry as a whole.”

Mumbai: The release of at least five films in Hindi and southern languages scheduled for March has been postponed to avoid a clash with two big-budget movies that are set to hit the screens next month-Dhurandhar The Revenge and Toxic. These films include Sunny Deol's Gabru, Ram Charan's Peddi, Ayushmann Khuraana's Pati Patni Aur Woh Do and Adivi Sesh's Dacoit: A Love Story.

"The makers want to avoid competition given the high audience interest in Dhurandhar 2 and Toxic," said film distributor and trade analyst Shaaminder Malik.

Ranveer Singh's Dhurandhar 2 and Toxic starring Yash-both scheduled for release on March 19-are expected to draw huge audiences, trade experts said. This could cause fewer footfalls in theatres for other films.

"There is high audience interest for both films. They stand a fair chance of faring equally well," said Bhuvnesh Mendiratta, managing director at multiplex chain Miraj Cinemas. "Dhurandhar 2 is riding on the stupendous success of its original. Toxic is set to capitalize on actor's Yash stardom, his legacy of pan-India success and the film's genre itself."

These movies are also likely to benefit from the long festival weekend of Eid and Gudi Padwa, he said, predicting: "Cumulatively, these films could record net collecting amounting to at least Rs. 1,500 crore." Trade analysts do not foresee any negative impact of this clash on either film, citing instances of two big films releasing on the same day doing well.

"There are careful considerations behind these releases. I don't think Dhurandhar 2 will eat into Toxic's collections," said producer and film business expert Girish Johar.

Films like Gadar and Lagaan (2001), as well as Welcome and Taare Zameen Par (2007), which had been released on the same dates, had done equally well, he pointed out. "I estimate that cumulatively both films will collect Rs. 300 crore on the opening weekend itself. Even though both films belong to the same genre, I think the reasons to watch them in theatres are materially different," Johar said.

According to film trade analysts, Geetu Mohandas-directed Toxic is estimated to be made on a budget of Rs. 500-600 crore. A key reason for such a high budget is the makers have shot the film in Kannada and English, and dubbed it in Hindi, Telugu, Tamil and other languages, said exhibitors.

The combined budget of director Aditya Dhar's Dhurandhar and Dhurandhar 2 is estimated to be Rs. 350-400 crore, said trade analysts.

Though audience interest is high, exhibitors face the challenge of accommodating shows of both films in the first week. "Both films have strong distributors. Anil Thadani's AA Films, which will also distribute Ramayana, is distributing Toxic. PVR Inox will distribute Dhurandhar 2 in four major markets. Given these facts, exhibitors will face the challenge of accommodating shows of both films in the first week," said Malik, the film distributor and trade analyst.

"But by the second week it is the audience's preference which will dictate the programming clearly."

Earlier this week, actor Roshan Mathew saw the release of his Malayalam action comedy Chatha Pacha: The Ring Of Rowdies. Now, he is gearing up for what comes next. Among the projects in his line-up, the actor tells mid-day that the one he is most hopeful about beginning soon is the second season of Kankhajura. The inaugural season of the SonyLIV thriller premièred in May last year.

“We are all set for a second season with a story in place. We are super excited to go back because it’s such a lovely collection of actors — [Mohit Raina, Trinetra Haldar Gummaraju, and Sarah Jane-Dias]. I have also loved working with the crew,” he shares of the series directed by Chandan Arora.

Mathew’s 11-year career is peppered with work across languages. He believes that moving between industries is essential to challenge stereotypes.

“It’s a constant choice that you have to keep making,” he notes. Working across industries also exposes him to varied work cultures. “If Malayalam film sets are intimate and largely non-hierarchical, Bollywood sets are often marked by large entourages and scale. Having experienced both, he feels comparisons are unfair.”

“I’ve noticed that the sizes of entourages are bigger in Bollywood. But it’s also unfair to blindly compare the two because the kind of crowd that would gather when a Bollywood star is shooting in an exterior location in Mumbai cannot be compared to a star shooting in a location in Kochi. Crowd management itself requires more resources in [big cities]. Firstly, Kochi is not as crowded. Secondly, people here understand that they need to keep a distance with artistes when they’re working,” he says.

While Malayalam cinema has traditionally been “grounded in a way that we can do the best with the resources at our disposal”, Mathew observes a clear budgetary shift. “There’s a gradual shift because the audience is demanding it, as it’s exposed to all kinds of cinema and the industry knows that it cannot retain the audience’s interest by only serving something frugal.”

Case in point is director Geetu Mohandas — with whom he collaborated on Moothon (2019) — who is now helming the big-budget period actioner Toxic, starring Yash.

When asked about its recent teaser getting mixed reactions with some criticizing the director for objectifying women, Mathew says, “I have seen the teaser; it doesn’t reveal anything about the film’s story or the world. So, I can’t judge it. But I am not surprised by the audience’s reaction because Geethu is too brave to repeat herself.”

Mumbai: Bollywood's getting ready for a blockbuster year. Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan, Aamir Khan, Ajay Devgn, Sunny Deol, Ranbir Kapoor all have releases lined up, in what's going to be the most superstar-heavy lineup of films since before the pandemic. A broad range of big-budget Hindi titles are scheduled to hit theatres, complemented by a strong slate of regional movies and Hollywood offerings.

Down south, Rajnikanth, Vijay, Yash, Prabhas, and Kamal Haasan have movies coming up, apart from which Mammootty and Mohanlal will be seen together in a movie (Patriot) for the first time in 17 years.

Producers, distributors, and trade analysts are predicting a record haul, extending the buoyant momentum after a reassuring 2025. Net box office receipts may surge 25-30%, reaching Rs. 14,052 crore to Rs. 14,614 crore in 2026, from Rs. 11,242 crore last year, going by some of the more conservative estimates.

"2026 could be the year of highest box office collection for the Indian film industry," said Vikram Malhotra, founder and CEO, Abundantia Entertainment. "Beyond the conventional big-star films, 2026 will be about films which will connect deeply with audiences. I see sleeper hits become monsters at the box office. In addition, genre experiments will find takers."

A key reason for the industry optimism is the wide array of movies lined up this year. These include Ramayana, Love & War, Lahore 1947, King, Battle Of Galwan, Drishyam 3, Dhurandhar 2 and Border 2. Highly anticipated regional films include Jailer 2, Jana Nayagan, Toxic. Hollywood films such as The Odyssey, Dune: Part Three, Moana, Avengers: Doomsday, and Spider-Man: Brand New Day are also expected to boost box office receipts.

"Even by conservative estimates, the Indian box office collection may grow at least in the range of 25-30% in 2026 compared to 2025 because of diverse offerings across Hindi, regional and Hollywood," said Girish Johar, film producer and industry expert.

The number of superstar releases is another reason for the optimism. "2026 is indeed a big year," said Navin Shah, joint MD, EMC Solutions Worldwide, a leading company in branded entertainment. "It is important to note that most superstars such as Ranbir Kapoor, Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan, Aamir Khan, and Sunny Deol have either one or two releases in a single year. This is happening after a long time."

Trade analysts predict the share of Hindi films in net box office collection to climb to 45-50% this year, from a historical average of 35-40%. Premium ticket pricing will also drive growth.

"There is at least one notable film which is either VFX-driven spectacle or has a big superstar in every quarter of 2026," said Shaaminder Malik, film distributor and trade analyst. "This provides room for premium ticket pricing, especially for formats such as IMAX and 4DX, thereby boosting total box office collection."

Growing Gen Z attendance at movie theatres is also boosting industry confidence, said producers. "Apart from a fantastic lineup, a big positive for the industry is the theatre attendance of Gen Z audience, which increased by 25% in 2025. This trend is likely to continue in 2026," said Sunir Kheterpal, producer, Athena E&M.

The KGF franchise, with its massive success, is a tough act to follow. But Kannada actor Yash is hoping to up the game with his next, Toxic, which is being designed as an action spectacle. Director Geetu Mohandas kicked off the latest schedule in Mumbai on July 21 with the leading man, Huma Qureshi, Tara Sutaria, and Akshay Oberoi. The three-week schedule is focused on a singular aspect — the action sequences.

A source said, “Last Monday, the new schedule kicked off in Film City, Goregaon. It will be largely indoors, where the actors will perform their stunts without the help of body doubles. It includes many sequences that involve hand-to-hand combat.” 

Given the demand of the story, the actors underwent intense training before reporting to the set.

The source added, “A team of 15 experts has been put together for safety and execution. They are helping the actors with close-cut scenes. The action in Toxic is raw, brutal, and grounded. In the hand-to-hand combat sequences, action directors J J Perry and Giorgi Iarajuli have blended elements of Krav Maga, Filipino Kali, and MMA techniques to create a gritty style of action.”

When Deepika Padukone walked out of Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s Spirit, it exposed the deeply gendered fissures within Bollywood’s power structures. This is an industry where exits by leading men are often romanticized as acts of creative rebellion, like in the case of Salman Khan leaving Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Inshallah.

The narrative surrounding Deepika’s exit was, however, aggressively shaped with slander. From the very first piece itself, she was branded “unprofessional” for asking for strict eight-hour work days, remuneration in the range of Rs 40 crore, an additional fee if the shoot extends beyond the allotted number of days, and a share of profits, which is customary for male stars. Her male co-star Prabhas, reportedly commands a fee ranging between Rs 100 to Rs 200 crore per film.

Deepika was promptly replaced by Triptii Dimri the next day. Dimri made it to national fame for her extended cameo in Vanga’s last film Animal. And then appeared a news report about how a major bone of contention between Padukone and Vanga was the number of “bold” scenes in the movie.

Vanga lashed back with a tweet, “When I narrate a story to an actor, I place 100 per cent faith. There is an unsaid NDA [Non Disclosure Agreement] between us. But by doing this, You’ve ‘DISCLOSED’ the person that you are... Putting down a Younger actor and ousting my story? Is this what your feminism stands for ? As a filmmaker, I put years of hard work behind my craft & for me, filmmaking is everything. You didn’t get it. You won’t get it. You will never get it. Aisa karo... Agli baar poori kahani bolna... kyunki mujhe jarra bhi farak nahi padtha. #dirtyPRgames I like this kahawath very much :-) खुंदक में बिल्ली खंबा नोचे!” [an embarrassed person tends to vent their feelings by quarrelling].

Padukone, who was attending a Cartier event in Copenhagen the same day, said in an interview, “I think what keeps me balanced is just being truthful, being authentic. Whenever I am faced with complicated or difficult situations, I listen to my inner voice and make decisions that give me peace. That’s when I feel most in equilibrium.”

What followed thereafter was a battle between Vanga supporters and Deepika stans.

Lawyer and activist Devrupa Rakshit tells us, “Watching this play out in the media has been nothing short of whiplash. This goes far deeper than an industry spat, and is a great case study in how patriarchy punishes women who know their worth, and label them ‘difficult’ or ‘replaceable’ the moment they stop playing nice or demand equity. As soon as a woman, no matter how accomplished, dares to set boundaries or ask for compensation comparable to her male counterparts, the system is very quick to remind her where it thinks she belongs. The rhetoric about whether Deepika is ‘worth Rs 20 crore’ is so hypocritical! Why are we even asking that when we rarely interrogate the sky-high demands of male actors, even when they consistently deliver flops?”

She posted about this on her social media, a post liked by Bollywood star Sonam Kapoor. 

Rakshit continues — “The responses to my post were so telling! They made the gender divide painfully clear. For many women, obviously, it resonated deeply, seeing their own experiences of being dismissed for asking for raises, for setting work-hour boundaries, for not overextending themselves just to appear “dedicated” reflected here. On the other hand, a large chunk of men are justifying the hate Deepika is receiving, with arguments like how she’s not a box-office draw, how there are thousands of girls who’d do it for free, or how she should be grateful she’s getting paid at all. There were also comments trying to sidestep the gender issue entirely, by framing it as a purely business decision. We don’t hear these same arguments when male actors charge three to four times more despite flopping repeatedly. At the heart of it is a deep-rooted discomfort with women asserting agency, especially around money and autonomy. This is also why stories like Deepika’s strike such a nerve. If someone with her fame, skill, and track record isn’t ‘allowed’ to ask for better, what hope is there for the rest of us?”

Filmmakers routinely bend over backwards to accommodate male superstars, adjusting shoot schedules, rewriting scripts, and sometimes even shelving projects. Which is why when Rhea Kapoor waited for a year for Kareena Kapoor Khan to make Veere Di Wedding, it made headlines. 

One top female producer, speaking on condition of anonymity, says, “The industry has long known that there are certain directors who maintain control through fear and manipulation. But now we’re seeing that actresses like Deepika are no longer willing to trade dignity for screen time. That’s a tectonic shift. And it threatens the old order.”

This kind of shift isn’t new. The subtext of this exit echoes past incidents, like Anushka Sharma’s push for better roles under her production banner or Kareena Kapoor discussing pay parity and lack of insurance for pregnant women on Bollywood sets. The industry’s patriarchal core is met with fierce resistance from women working here now. An image manager at Matrix the company who reps Varun Dhawan and Alia Bhatt, says, “Deepika has made it clear she won’t tolerate creative environments that don’t serve her. Kareena, too, left Yash-starrer Toxic due to monetary disputes with the makers. The ladies are saying that they won’t be tossed around. They know their worth and won’t short-sell.”

This is perhaps why Padukone’s brand emerges stronger post-exit. Industry whispers indicate that several directors have approached her since, and she is on the verge of locking Atlee’s next alongside Allu Arjun, for whom this is the next after the success of Pushpa 2. A male screenwriter comments, “This is the era of image-led storytelling. When an actress becomes symbolic of a larger cultural stance, like not tolerating toxicity, she doesn’t need a hit film to stay relevant. She becomes the story.”

And Vanga? He may ride the wave of attention into a successful release, but his penchant for controversial masculinity may have once seemed audacious, now it risks coming across as repetitive. 

A senior publicist believes that this is a classic eyeball-grabbing move by Vanga. “He is playing a long game here. Every time he positions himself as misunderstood or vilified, he strengthens his appeal among a very specific demographic of viewers, mostly young men. And now, he is going after a top actress and accusing her of things like leaking the plot of his film. But nothing about the film is known except the fact that it is a cop thriller.”

Trade analyst Taran Adarsh rubbishes this theory. He says, “When a writer narrates a story, it is meant to be a secret. It’s an unspoken fact. You can’t tell the story. A filmmaker would feel hurt. Even in the 1970s and ’80s, actors would pass on films because of scheduling conflicts. Sholay had multiple casting changes but the story never got leaked. Stars and even directors need to part ways amicably. And no, I don’t believe negativity is publicity because no one wants or benefits from publicity like this.”

Female agency is suffering the most, Kolkata-based sociologist Susmita Bandhopadhyay tells Sunday mid-day. Padukone’s supporters, who made the issue about feminism, gave the issue an ugly turn and worked overtime to run down Triptii, who only took up a new film that someone else was supposed to do.

“Feminism, at its core, is about women pulling each other up. So what’s happening right now is not feminism. It’s a PR show that uses feminists as pawns. What happened to Deepika is unfortunate, but the minute Triptii’s slut-shaming began, it became counter-productive. In the end, it became the classic woman-pitted-against-woman and be it Deepika or Triptii, a woman lost.”

All eyes may be on this Eid release, but Yash has already set his sights on 2026 Eid. That’s when the Kannada star’s period drama, Toxic: A Fairy Tale for Grown-ups, will hit the theatres. With a year to go for the release, the actor and director Geetu Mohandas are already shooting the last leg in Mumbai.

Sources tell us that the unit’s first stop in the city is the Afghan Church in Colaba.

A source reveals, “Over the next three days, the team will film some high-octane action sequences at the location. Only Yash is required for this stint; leading ladies Nayanthara and Kiara Advani finished their portions earlier. With the unit having procured the necessary permission from local authorities, they have blocked the lane in which they are filming to ensure there is no disruption. After the Colaba shoot, they will move to Madh Island to complete the last few scenes. With that, it will be a wrap on the principal photography.”

That will give Mohandas months for Toxic’s post-production. The source adds, “Geetu knows that after the KGF franchise, Yash’s next will arrive amid high expectations. She wants to ensure it is on a par with international action thrillers.”

At a time when the volume of content being churned out by the film industry often leads to a tussle for screens across India, releasing a small-budget offering alongside three big-budget productions may seem like a poorly calculated move. But April 11 is a date of significance for Ananth Narayan Mahadevan, given that it coincides with the 197th birth anniversary of social activist Jyotirao Govindrao Phule, on whom his film, Phule, is based.

Mahadevan acknowledges that releasing the movie merely a day after mammoth productions like Prabhas’s The Raja Saab, Yash’s Toxic, and Akshay Kumar’s Jolly LLB 3 hit the theatres may seem daunting for a filmmaker, but he is certain that the Pratik Gandhi and Patralekhaa-starrer will catch the attention of the audience he intends to target.

“April 11 is a milestone; a date to celebrate. It is relevant for us to release the film on that day, regardless of which other film is also released. Our date is finalised. In March, we will begin promoting Phule, and ensure that people belonging to each corner of India know what the film is about. I have shot at actual locations, like at a wada [fortress] in Bhor, Kolhapur, and Satara. I did not shoot on a set because my producers, Ritesh and Anuya Kudecha, insisted that the film be made as authentically as possible,” says Mahadevan.

Celebrating the socialists, Phule, and his wife Savitribai (played by Patralekhaa) for their innumerable contributions to society, Mahadevan calls the former the “Abraham Lincoln of India.”

“When Jyotirao learnt that Lincoln abolished slavery in America, he was deeply inspired. He was fighting a battle on two fronts—against the British, and [against society]. The fight was to dispel practices like gender and caste discrimination and promote the education of the girl child. Today if women have an opinion, are educated, and are taken seriously, [it is because of them]. Savitribai and Fatima Sheikh [Indian educator] were the first female teachers in India.”

Ask him if he considered casting Rajkummar Rao as the film’s leading man to have the husband-and-wife duo Rao and Patralekhaa reprise the relationship on screen, and he responds in the negative. “Pratik is an effortless actor,” he backs his leading man.

“He is a chameleon, and we can all just marvel at him. He works hard on each role, but that effort isn’t made obvious on the screen, and that is what acting is all about. Of course, Rajkummar is very accomplished, and I could have approached him via Patralekhaa, but when I saw Pratik and Patralekhaa together, I felt the real characters had come alive.”

Right after the Diwali festivities, it will be work calling Yash. The Kannada superstar, along with co-actor Nayanthara, will dive into the next leg of Toxic: A Fairy Tale for Grown-ups. The buzz is that director Geetu Mohandas will lead an extensive Mumbai schedule from November 6. While Film City will serve as the primary venue for the shoot, an additional set is being built at Madh Island.

Right after the Diwali festivities, it will be work calling Yash. The Kannada superstar, along with co-actor Nayanthara, will dive into the next leg of Toxic: A Fairy Tale for Grown-ups. The buzz is that director Geetu Mohandas will lead an extensive Mumbai schedule from November 6. While Film City will serve as the primary venue for the shoot, an additional set is being built at Madh Island. 

While Nayanthara plays Yash’s on-screen sister in the actioner revolving around the drug mafia, Kiara Advani portrays his love interest. In this leg, the KGF superstar and Nayanthara will wrap up most of their combination scenes. Some critical action sequences are also on the cards.

The source added, “The action will be raw and gritty, with an emphasis on physicality. Fifty stunt experts have been roped in for these scenes. Kiara and Akshay Oberoi will also be a part of this schedule.”

Akshay Oberoi has always been passionate about mixed martial arts (MMA), but due to his work schedule, he has had to put it on the back burner. However, the actor is once again training hard for an upcoming project. Akshay packed a punch for an exclusive shoot with Bombay Times and spoke to us about getting back into the groove.

Happy to reconnect with his earlier fitness regime, Akshay shares, “I got interested in MMA at the age of 11; It was on and off in New Jersey. I wanted to be an actor. When I moved to Mumbai and started working, I was never cast in an action film until recently, as action films are expensive. So I stopped and then I trained again. Later, I got busy with my acting assignments and couldn’t make the time for it. But when this film came my way, I was delighted as it gave me an opportunity to get back to my passion. It took me a while, as I lost touch with it. When you're out of practice, you're rusty, even acting when you're out of practice, you're rusty. That is why it's part of my daily routine now. I keep basic touch with it and my body used to kicking and stretching at that level, it's easier to not lose touch. I hope to continue training even in the future.”

Talking about his acting journey, he shares, "When I started out, the movies I was doing did not have any scope for martial arts. It’s only recently that I started doing some action films. Action also requires bigger budgets. So, finally, I’m in that space. Yes, I have a lot more desire to explore, but I'm so grateful for this period because I'm finally getting to do bigger films like with Toxic and Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari and such mainstream Hindi cinema, which is something that Fighter gave me access to. These are the same filmmakers who probably knew me before Fighter but wouldn't give me these opportunities, but that's how the business works. That is particularly why I am grateful for this phase."

In Hindi movies, actor Tiger Shroff is primarily known for doing MMA. However, Akshay is in no mood to compare himself with the Bade Miyan Chote Miyan actor.

"For me, my core business is acting – doing different and versatile roles. His core business is action. These are just bonuses that I have in my toolkit. I would be a fool to think I'm on Tiger’s level. That's not even my dhandha, ye unka dhandha hai. They need to sell that. There are some actors known as action stars and some chocolate heroes, but I want to be known as an actor. I enjoy action, but I don’t want anything to take the focus away from my performances. I need to keep experimenting with movies. Sometimes a performance will go wrong and sometimes it will go right. But that's my journey. This is just a small part that I can bring to the table. It's not my main focus," he concludes.