After a notably quiet year at the box office in 2025, Bollywood's biggest stars are preparing for a spectacular return in 2026. A-listers like Shah Rukh Khan, Ranbir Kapoor, Alia Bhatt, and Deepika Padukone have used the past year to meticulously plan their next projects, setting the stage for what promises to be a blockbuster year for Indian cinema.
The Superstar Comebacks
Shah Rukh Khan, who made a historic comeback in 2023 with films like 'Pathaan', 'Jawan', and 'Dunki', deliberately stayed away from theatrical releases in both 2024 and 2025. The superstar focused on curating his next move, making only a special appearance in his son Aryan Khan's show 'The Ba***ds Of Bollywood'. His highly anticipated next film, titled 'King', is now slated for a 2026 release, generating immense buzz among his global fanbase.
Following the seismic success of 'Animal' in 2024, Ranbir Kapoor also kept fans waiting in 2025. Apart from a brief cameo in the same web series as SRK, he dedicated the year to shooting large-scale epic projects. He is deeply involved in the making of the mythological saga 'Ramayana', which is eyeing a grand Diwali 2026 release, and the film 'Love And War'.
The Leading Ladies' Strategic Pause
Two of Bollywood's most bankable actresses, Alia Bhatt and Deepika Padukone, also chose to step back from releases in 2025. After a busy 2024, Alia decided to slow down, being selective about her projects. While she has multiple films in the pipeline, her absence was felt on the silver screen this year. Her upcoming film 'Alpha' is among the most awaited.
Deepika Padukone, meanwhile, is linked to two major projects. She is reportedly part of Shah Rukh Khan's 'King' and is also set to star in director Atlee's next film, tentatively referred to as 'AA22XA6', which will feature South superstar Allu Arjun, marking a major pan-India collaboration.
Other Stars Gearing Up for 2026
The trend of a strategic break extends to other prominent names. Shraddha Kapoor, after the success of 'Stree 2' in 2024, took 2025 off to read scripts and develop content-driven projects. She has commenced work on Laxman Utekar's 'Eetha', a biopic based on the famous Lavani dancer, Vithabai Narayangaonkar.
Always known for reinventing herself, Kareena Kapoor Khan signed Meghna Gulzar's 'Daayra' after her 2024 film 'The Buckingham Murders'. Co-starring Prithviraj Sukumaran, the film is in development and expected to hit theatres in 2026.
The collective decision by these top-tier stars to focus on development and production in 2025 suggests that 2026 is being viewed as a pivotal year for Bollywood. With mega-budget films, cross-industry collaborations, and content-driven cinema lined up, the industry is poised to deliver an unprecedented lineup of entertainment to audiences worldwide.
