Indian cinema is gearing up for one of its most ambitious phases with a cluster of large-scale films lined up between 2026 and 2027, led by the multi-part mythological epic Ramayana and a slate of star-driven spectacles across languages. The upcoming lineup signals an aggressive push toward tentpole storytelling with high budgets, extensive visual effects, and nationwide festival release windows designed to consolidate India’s position in the global theatrical market.
At the center of this phase is Nitesh Tiwari’s two-part Ramayana, headlined by Ranbir Kapoor and Sai Pallavi, with Part 1 slated for Diwali 2026 and Part 2 for Diwali 2027. The project is positioned as a back-to-back festive event. Mounted as a mythological epic with large-scale world-building and an ensemble cast including Yash in a key role, the films are expected to combine IMAX-ready visuals with strong devotional and family appeal to attract audiences across metros and smaller centers. According to the YouTube channel Lallantop Cinema, the first look of Ramayana has received an overwhelmingly positive response, with Ranbir Kapoor and Yash’s appearances generating massive hype. The film will be released in two parts, with Part 1 focusing on Lord Ram’s character development. Yash, playing Ravana, will reportedly have just 15 minutes of screen time in this installment. Fans can expect Part 1 to cover key events from Ram’s birth to Sita’s swayamvar and exile.
Lallantop Cinema also mentions that Shah Rukh Khan finally opened up about his role in King, putting an end to all the speculation. At the SRK Day event in Mumbai, he addressed fan questions about whether he’s playing a villain or a grey-shaded character. SRK reminded everyone that he’s never shied away from complex roles from Darr and Baazigar to Don. He said heroes and villains are just labels, and he’s more interested in doing something exciting and new on screen.
Alongside Ramayana and King, several major projects are targeting the 2026–2027 corridor, including Varanasi, which is being planned as a spiritually themed drama rooted in the ancient temple town. It is designed to tap into the growing appetite for faith-centered narratives and cultural stories on the big screen. Trade analysts expect such titles to lean on location-heavy production design and theatrical scale to differentiate themselves from streaming-centric content that has dominated more intimate genres in recent years.
In the commercial space, Toxic: A Fairy Tale For Grown Ups, scheduled for a March 2026 release, is being positioned as a dark, fantasy-tinged mass entertainer aimed at young adult and urban audiences who have embraced stylized genre cinema. With its blend of fairy tale motifs, contemporary themes, and star power, the film is seen as part of a broader attempt to diversify mainstream Indian storytelling beyond biopics and conventional action dramas.
Spirit, featuring Prabhas and directed by Sandeep Reddy Vanga, is set for a 2027 release with the actor playing a powerful police officer in what is being billed as an intense cop action drama. Filming for the much-anticipated project is expected to commence shortly and span over a year, with shooting planned across multiple locations in India and abroad.
The upcoming slate also features AA22 × A6, targeting 2026 and 2027 with a mix of big-ticket action and cross-regional star collaborations expected to appeal across Hindi and southern language markets.
These films are being developed with franchise potential in mind and are likely to rely on large-scale action choreography, strong musical albums, and simultaneous multi-language releases to maximize box office performance in India and overseas.