Upcoming Bollywood Movies October to December 2026 – Release Dates, Cast & Details
The last three months of 2026 will decide Bollywood's year. October opens with the final chapter of the Drishyam saga on Gandhi Jayanti weekend. November belongs to Diwali — and to Ranbir Kapoor's Ramayana: Part 1, the most expensive Indian film ever mounted. December ends with a Christmas showdown between Shah Rukh Khan's King and Vicky Kaushal's Mahavatar.
Here is Showbiz Daily's complete, in-depth guide to every major upcoming Bollywood movie from October to December 2026 — full story details, star cast, directors, release dates and why each film matters.
Release dates in the film industry shift frequently. We will update this guide as official announcements arrive.
October 2026: thrillers, spies and horror-comedy
Drishyam: The Conclusion — October 2
Cast: Ajay Devgn (Vijay Salgaonkar), Tabu, Shriya Saran, Rajat Kapoor, with new additions Jaideep Ahlawat and Prakash Raj
Director: Abhishek Pathak | Genre: Crime thriller
Story: The final chapter of Indian cinema's most beloved crime-thriller franchise. Vijay Salgaonkar — the cable operator who outsmarted the entire police force twice — now faces secrets from the past that refuse to stay buried. Every lie he told to protect his family is closing in, and this time the truth may cost him everything. Expect the franchise's trademark cat-and-mouse tension pushed to its absolute limit.
Why it matters: Drishyam (2015) and Drishyam 2 (2022) were both massive successes built on pure screenplay strength — no songs-as-crutch, no star-vehicle bloat. A Gandhi Jayanti release gives it a four-day weekend, and the additions of Jaideep Ahlawat and Prakash Raj promise formidable new adversaries. This is the most anticipated thriller of the year.
Udta Teer — October 9
Cast: Ayushmann Khurrana, Sara Ali Khan
Genre: Spy action-comedy
Story: A globe-trotting spy caper played for both thrills and laughs — an unlikely agent pairing thrown into a high-stakes mission where nothing goes as planned.
Why it matters: Ayushmann Khurrana doing full-scale action-comedy is a fresh gear for him, and his pairing with Sara Ali Khan is a first. Bollywood is betting heavily on the spy-comedy space, and this film will test whether the genre has legs beyond the established franchises.
Bokshi — October 9
Cast: Prasanna Bisht, Mansi Multani
Genre: Horror
Story: A straight-up horror outing arriving in the pre-Diwali corridor — details are tightly guarded, but it positions itself as a scare-first theatrical experience.
Why it matters: Horror is one of the few genres where small films can still explode theatrically. If Bokshi delivers genuine scares, the October 9 date gives it a clear two-week runway.
Prahaar (The Ujjwal Nikam Story) — October 16
Cast: Rajkummar Rao (Ujjwal Nikam), Wamiqa Gabbi
Genre: Biographical drama
Story: The life of Ujjwal Nikam, one of India's most famous public prosecutors — the man who argued some of the country's most high-profile criminal cases. Rajkummar Rao plays Nikam across the landmark trials that made him a household name, with Wamiqa Gabbi in a key supporting role.
Why it matters: Rajkummar Rao is in the form of his life, and real-life legal dramas have a strong recent track record. If the courtroom sequences land, this could be both a critical and commercial success.
Nayyi Navelli — October 16
Cast: Yami Gautam
Genre: Horror-comedy fantasy
Story: A horror-comedy with a fantasy twist, headlined solo by Yami Gautam — riding the wave of Bollywood's horror-comedy boom.
Why it matters: The horror-comedy universe economics are irresistible: modest budgets, massive returns. A female-led entry in the genre is a welcome expansion, and Yami Gautam has the comic timing to carry it.
Prem Keetanu — October 2 | Pooja Meri Jaan — October 2 | Main Na Raha Mera — October 23
October 2 also brings two smaller releases against the Drishyam juggernaut: Prem Keetanu (Veer Pahariya, Aafiya Syed, Aparshakti Khurana) — a youthful college romance-comedy; and Pooja Meri Jaan (Huma Qureshi, Mrunal Thakur, Vikram Singh Chauhan) — a romance thriller. On October 23, Main Na Raha Mera (Adhyayan Suman, Divita Rai) arrives as a romantic musical.
November 2026: Diwali belongs to Ramayana
Ramayana: Part 1 — November 6 (Diwali)
Cast: Ranbir Kapoor (Rama), Sai Pallavi (Sita), Yash (Ravana), Sunny Deol (Hanuman)
Director: Nitesh Tiwari | Genre: Mythological epic
Story: The timeless epic of Prince Rama — his exile, Sita's abduction by the demon king Ravana, the alliance with Hanuman and the vanara army, and the ultimate battle for dharma. Part 1 of a planned multi-film saga, mounted on a scale Indian cinema has never attempted: Hollywood-grade VFX, international technicians, and a production budget reportedly among the largest in Indian film history.
Why it matters: This is the biggest Indian film event of the decade. Nitesh Tiwari (Dangal) directing, Ranbir Kapoor as Rama, Yash — the KGF phenomenon — as Ravana, and Sunny Deol as Hanuman: the casting alone is a national conversation. A Diwali release means the biggest possible opening. Everything about this film will be historic — or a cautionary tale. There is no middle ground.
Pratap — November 20
Cast: Amit Sadh, Esha Deol
Genre: Thriller
Why it matters: A mid-November thriller gets breathing room after the Diwali carnage — smart counter-programming for audiences seeking something grounded after the mythological spectacle.
Gunmaaster G9 — November 27
Cast: Emraan Hashmi, Genelia D'Souza
Genre: Action thriller
Why it matters: Emraan Hashmi in full action mode with Genelia D'Souza — a mass-market action thriller aimed squarely at single-screen audiences.
Yeh Prem Mol Liya — November 27
Cast: Ayushmann Khurrana, Sharvari
Genre: Family drama / romance
Why it matters: Ayushmann's second release of the quarter, this time in his comfort zone — a warm family entertainer. Clashing with Gunmaaster G9 on the same date sets up an interesting content-vs-mass showdown.
December 2026: the Christmas clash
King — December 24 (Christmas)
Cast: Shah Rukh Khan, Suhana Khan, Deepika Padukone
Director: Siddharth Anand | Genre: Action thriller
Story: A high-octane action thriller built around Shah Rukh Khan in full Pathaan/Jawan-mode intensity. Details are under wraps, but the Siddharth Anand collaboration — the director behind SRK's blockbuster comeback — promises large-scale action set pieces and a global-scale production.
Why it matters: The Christmas weekend belongs to King Khan by tradition. With Suhana Khan co-starring and Deepika Padukone in the mix, this is Shah Rukh's biggest release since the 2023 comeback double-header. Expect records to fall.
Mahavatar — December 25
Cast: Vicky Kaushal
Director: Amar Kaushik | Genre: Mythological epic
Story: A mythological epic headlined by Vicky Kaushal, from the director of the horror-comedy universe that redefined mid-budget Bollywood. Mounted as a large-scale spectacle.
Why it matters: Releasing one day after King, this is the boldest clash of the year — mythological spectacle vs. SRK action. Vicky Kaushal's box-office credibility after his recent successes makes this a genuine two-horse race, not a sacrificial release.
Ranger — December 4
Cast: Ajay Devgn, Sanjay Dutt, Tamannaah Bhatia
Genre: Action adventure
Story: A big-screen action adventure pairing two of Bollywood's most enduring action stars — Ajay Devgn and Sanjay Dutt — with Tamannaah Bhatia.
Why it matters: The Devgn–Dutt pairing is pure 90s nostalgia with modern scale. Opening December, it gets a three-week clear run before the Christmas giants arrive.
Eetha — December 4
Cast: Shraddha Kapoor, Randeep Hooda
Genre: Biographical film
Why it matters: A biographical drama headlined by Shraddha Kapoor — counter-programming to Ranger's action on the same date, aimed at multiplex audiences.
The quarter at a glance
| Date | Movie | Lead cast |
|---|---|---|
| Oct 2 | Drishyam: The Conclusion | Ajay Devgn, Tabu |
| Oct 9 | Udta Teer | Ayushmann Khurrana, Sara Ali Khan |
| Oct 16 | Prahaar / Nayyi Navelli | Rajkummar Rao / Yami Gautam |
| Nov 6 | Ramayana: Part 1 | Ranbir Kapoor, Yash |
| Nov 27 | Gunmaaster G9 / Yeh Prem Mol Liya | Emraan Hashmi / Ayushmann Khurrana |
| Dec 4 | Ranger / Eetha | Ajay Devgn, Sanjay Dutt / Shraddha Kapoor |
| Dec 24 | King | Shah Rukh Khan |
| Dec 25 | Mahavatar | Vicky Kaushal |
Related coverage on Showbiz Daily
- New Bollywood movies released in September 2026 — box office hits and flops
- Bollywood news: Amitabh injury, Love & War Rs 300 cr deal
- Upcoming Hollywood movies October to December 2026
- New Pakistani dramas October 2026
From this calendar, our latest coverage: the Eetha trailer — Shraddha Kapoor's Lavani drama releasing 4 December 2026, and the Ramayana LA premiere — first reactions.
FAQs
Which is the biggest Bollywood release of late 2026?
Ramayana: Part 1 (November 6, Diwali) — the mega-budget mythological epic starring Ranbir Kapoor, Sai Pallavi, Yash and Sunny Deol — followed by Shah Rukh Khan's King at Christmas.
What is the story of Drishyam: The Conclusion?
The final chapter of the franchise: Vijay Salgaonkar (Ajay Devgn) faces secrets from his past that threaten everything he protected, with Tabu returning and Jaideep Ahlawat and Prakash Raj joining the cast.
When is King releasing?
December 24, 2026 — the Christmas weekend — directed by Siddharth Anand, co-starring Suhana Khan and Deepika Padukone.
Is Dhoom 4 releasing in 2026?
No. There is no official announcement from YRF, and reports point to a 2027 target. Ranbir Kapoor has publicly denied involvement.
Which films clash this quarter?
The biggest clash is King (Dec 24) vs Mahavatar (Dec 25) at Christmas. October 16 sees Prahaar vs Nayyi Navelli, and November 27 has Gunmaaster G9 vs Yeh Prem Mol Liya.
Bookmark this page — Showbiz Daily updates release dates and details as official announcements arrive.