After the poor performance of Ranveer Singh-starrer 83, which was released in theatres in December 2021, makers of several Hindi films have rescheduled openings or taken the OTT route, in order to minimise losses, while also maintaining Covid-19 protocols. However, with a decline in cases, the Maharashtra government recently announced that theatres can operate at a 50% capacity.
The Hindi film industry is set to regain its momentum once again, as Badhaai Do, a sequel to the 2018 film Badhaai Ho featuring Ayushmann Khurrana, is set to release in theatres on February 11. Following which, a line-up of several films are awaiting their theatrical premieres, like Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Gangubai Kathiawadi and the Amitabh Bachchan-starrer Jhund, among others.
Silverscreen India brings you a list of Hindi films that are set to premiere on the big screens in the coming days.
Badhaai Do: February 11
Badhaai Do, led by actors Rajkummar Rao and Bhumi Pednekar, is set to release in theatres on February 11, already garnering appreciation from its trailer. A sequel to the National Award-winning 2018 film Badhaai Ho, it is based on the topic of ‘lavender marriage’ (a marriage between a man and a woman, for the purpose of hiding their homosexuality). The film is directed by Harshavardhan Kulkarni, and produced by Junglee Pictures.
Gangubai Kathiawadi: February 25
The Sanjay Leela Bhansali directorial has been one of the most anticipated films, since it was announced. The film, which had its world premiere at the 72nd Berlin International Film Festival, was originally slated for release in July, last year. However, the makers rescheduled the release date to February 25, due to the ongoing pandemic. Gangubai Kathiawadi is a biographical crime drama, loosely based on a chapter from Hussain Zaidi and Jane Borges’ book, Mafia Queens of Mumbai, which isa collection of stories about women who were part of Mumbai’s underworld. Alia Bhatt plays Gangubai Kathiawadi, who was one of the most influential women in Kamathipura, a red-light district in Mumbai, and the owner of many brothels in that area.
Jhund: March 4
Nagraj Manjule, best known for directing critically-acclaimed Marathi films such as Pistulya, Fandry, and Sairat, will make his Hindi film debut as a director with Jhund, with Amitabh Bachchan in the lead role. The veteran actor’s last big-screen release was in the 2019 film Badla, after which he had a special appearance in the Telugu movie Sye Raa Narasimha Reddy. The film is based on the life of NGO Slum Soccer founder Vijay Barse, who motivates slum-dwellers to form a football team and coaches them.
Bachchan Pandey: March 18
Directed by Farhad Samji, Bachchan Pandey features Akshay Kumar and Kriti Sanon in the leads, with actors Pankaj Tripathi and Jacqueline Fernandez playing pivotal roles. The film was originally slated for release on December 25, 2020, but it was delayed due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. The film’s trailer is yet to release, and reports state that the makers might unveil it on February 18.
RRR: March 25
SS Rajamouli‘s RRR (Roudhram Ranam Rudhiram) is a pan-Indian film with an ensemble cast that includes Ram Charan, Junior NTR, Hindi actors Alia Bhatt and Ajay Devgn, Irish actor Alison Doody, as well as Shriya Saran, Ray Stevenson, and Olivia Morris, among others. Produced by DVV Entertainment, the film was initially supposed to release in January, later announcing two tentative dates, March 18 or April 28, citing the pandemic situation and capacity in theatres. However, the makers recently announced a new release date, March 25.
Attack: April 1
The John Abraham-starrer, directed and written by Lakshya Raj Anand, revolves around a hostage situation and is based on true events. The film also features Jacqueline Fernandez, Rakul Preet Singh, Ratna Pathak Shah, and Prakash Raj. the film’s release was delayed due to the pandemic but recently, its makers announced that it will be hit theatres on April 1.
Laal Singh Chaddha: April 14
Aamir Khan’s Laal Singh Chaddha, an official remake of the 1994 Tom Hanks-starrer Forrest Gump, was earlier set to release in Christmas 2021. However, the film’s premiere was moved to February 14 and finally rescheduled to April 14, for a wider theatrical release. The first look of the film revealed that Aamir Khan plays the role of an autistic character. It also stars Kareena Kapoor Khan, Naga Chaitanya and Mona Singh. Helmed by Advait Chandan of Secret Superstar fame and penned by actor Atul Kulkarni, Laal Singh Chaddha is being jointly produced by Aamir Khan, Kiran Rao, and Viacom 18 Studios.
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Heropanti 2: April 29
Cashing in on the occasion of Eid, the romantic action film stars Tiger Shroff in the lead and is set to hit theatres at the end of April. Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Tara Sutaria will also be seen in pivotal roles in the film. Heropanti 2 is a sequel to Shroff’s debut film Heropanti and can be expected to clash with one or more films that are yet to announce their release dates. The film is directed by Ahmed Khan and its trailer is yet to be unveiled.