Mumbai, India | December 31, 2025
After Ajay Devgn, Bollywood star Akshay Kumar is now facing mounting pressure to revise his film release strategy as Ranveer Singh’s Dhurandhar continues to dominate the box office and reshape the 2026 theatrical calendar.
Ranveer Singh’s Dhurandhar 2 is officially scheduled for release on March 19, 2026, targeting the high-stakes Eid holiday window. Akshay Kumar’s horror-comedy Bhoot Bangla was slated to hit theaters just two weeks later, on April 2, 2026. However, industry buzz suggests that Akshay Kumar and director Priyadarshan are now considering shifting the film to a later date.
Sources indicate that the unprecedented box office momentum of Dhurandhar has prompted Akshay Kumar to step back rather than risk a direct clash. While no formal announcement has been made, the makers are reportedly open to postponing the release to avoid potential losses. An official update is expected in the coming weeks.
The situation is further complicated by the already announced release of Awarapan 2, starring Emraan Hashmi, which is set to arrive on April 3, 2026—just one day after Bhoot Bangla’s planned release. With two major films surrounding the Dhurandhar 2 window, trade analysts believe Akshay Kumar would face significant box office pressure if he sticks to the original date.
Bhoot Bangla, produced by Balaji Motion Pictures and directed by Priyadarshan, was initially announced for a 2025 release. However, a poster unveiled in December 2024 confirmed April 2, 2026, as the revised release date. Now, fresh reports suggest that Akshay Kumar is once again re-evaluating the timeline, as he prefers to avoid risks in the early months of 2026.
For Akshay Kumar, 2025 proved to be a mixed year. The actor released four films—Sky Force, Kesari Chapter 2, Housefull 5, and Jolly LLB 3—all of which performed steadily at the box office without emerging as runaway blockbusters. With several high-profile projects lined up, expectations are high for his 2026 releases.
Meanwhile, Dhurandhar continues its historic run. Released 27 days ago, the film has already crossed ₹700 crore in India and surpassed ₹1,000 crore worldwide. Remarkably, daily collections have continued to rise rather than slow down, reinforcing its status as the biggest commercial force in the market.
The impact has already been felt across the industry. Ajay Devgn previously pulled Dhamaal 4 from the same release window, and now Akshay Kumar appears to be the next major star adjusting his plans in response to the Dhurandhar phenomenon.
