The monumental success of Aditya Dhar's espionage thriller 'Dhurandhar' is sending seismic waves through Bollywood, potentially reshaping how major studios approach big-budget spectacles. Having stormed past the Rs 1160 crore mark at the worldwide box office since its December 5, 2025 release, the film's strategy of splitting its narrative into two parts is now being eyed as a potential blueprint for other cinematic giants.
King and Love & War: Contemplating the Two-Part Release Model
According to a report from Bollywood Hungama, the production teams behind two of the most anticipated upcoming films—Shah Rukh Khan's 'King' and Sanjay Leela Bhansali's 'Love and War'—are actively discussing the possibility of releasing their projects in two installments. An industry insider revealed that the staggering success of 'Dhurandhar' has provided a fresh perspective, prompting both SRK and Bhansali to individually consider this approach.
The source stated, "Both 'King' and 'Love And War' are big-budget spectacles and have gone beyond what was on paper when it comes to the cost of production. As 'Dhurandhar' has set a trend, both SRK and Bhansali are contemplating splitting their epics into two parts and releasing them in a gap of less than 6 months."
Potential Release Windows and The Creative Rationale
The report outlines tentative release windows for these potential two-part sagas. Sanjay Leela Bhansali's magnum opus, 'Love and War', starring Ranbir Kapoor, Vicky Kaushal, and Alia Bhatt, is reportedly considering an August 2026 release for Part 1, followed by Part 2 in January 2027.
On the other hand, Siddharth Anand's action flick 'King', featuring a massive ensemble cast including Shah Rukh Khan, Suhana Khan, and Deepika Padukone, is looking at September 2026 for its first part and March 2027 for the conclusion. It is crucial to note that these discussions are in preliminary stages, and a final decision will be made only after the editing process, contingent on having sufficient high-quality footage to justify two standalone films.
The move isn't solely driven by financial ambition. The insider highlighted that a two-part structure offers creators "more creative freedom to explore sub-tracks" and allows for deeper narrative exploration. Financially, it translates to enhanced returns through separate satellite and digital rights deals for each part.
The Trailblazer: Dhurandhar's Unprecedented Run
The film that started it all, 'Dhurandhar', directed by Aditya Dhar and starring Ranveer Singh, has become a cultural and commercial phenomenon. Its second part is already slated to hit theaters on March 19, 2026. The film's performance has demonstrably influenced strategic thinking at the highest levels of the industry.
"'Dhurandhar' has infused a fresh perspective in all creators as well as business honchos. The next few months will be exciting," the source added, hinting at a potential paradigm shift in how Bollywood markets its biggest projects.
As the industry watches closely, the potential bifurcation of 'King' and 'Love and War' signifies a bold new chapter. If these plans materialize, audiences can expect immersive, large-scale storytelling spread across two cinematic events, marking a significant evolution in Indian filmmaking and distribution strategy.
