Currently, theatres in India are functioning in a few states. But, cinemas in Maharashtra are shut. On Saturday (25), Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Uddhav Thackeray, announced that the theatres in the state will reopen from 22nd October 2021.
After the announcement, Rohit Shetty quickly revealed that his movie Sooryavanshi starring Akshay Kumar and Katrina Kaif will release on Diwali.
But, on Sunday (26), the release dates of multiple films were announced. So, here’s the list of movies that are all set to release this year and next year.
Bunty Aur Babli 2 (19th November 2021)
YRF’s Bunty Aur Babli 2 starring Saif Ali Khan, Rani Mukerji, Siddhant Chaturvedi, and Sharvari will hit the big screens on 19th November 2021. The movie is a sequel to the 2005 release Bunty Aur Babli.
Satyameva Jayate 2 (26th November 2021)
A few days ago, while talking to us producer Nikkhil Advani had revealed that they are waiting for theatres to reopen 100 percent, and then only they will release Satyameva Jayate 2. Well now, the makers have announced the release date and the movie will release in theatres on 26th November 2021.
Tadap (3rd December 2021)
Suniel Shetty’s son Ahan Shetty is all set to make his Bollywood debut with the film Tadap. The movie was slated to release this month, but it will now release on 3rd December 2021. Directed by Milan Luthria, Tadap also stars Tara Sutaria in the lead role.
Chandigarh Kare Aashiqui (10th December 2021)
Abhishek Kapoor’s Chandigarh Kare Aashiqui starring Ayushmann Khurrana and Vaani Kapoor will release in theatres on 10th December 2021. Moviegoers are excited to watch the fresh pairing of Ayushmann and Vaani on the big screen.
83 (24th December 2021)
Kabir Khan’s 83 starring Ranveer Singh, Deepika Padukone, and others will hit the big screens on 24th December 2021. It is undoubtedly one of the most awaited films of the year.
Jersey (31st December 2021)
We will end the year with Shahid Kapoor and Mrunal Thakur starrer Jersey. The film, which was slated to release on Diwali this year, has been postponed to 31st December 2021.
Prithviraj (21st January 2022)
Akshay Kumar and Manushi Chhillar’s magnum opus Prithviraj will release in theatres on 21st January 2022. The movie also stars Sanjay Dutt and Sonu Sood.
Laal Singh Chaddha (Valentine’s Day 2022)
Aamir Khan and Kareena Kapoor Khan starrer Laal Singh Chaddha was slated to release on Christmas this year. But, it has now been postponed to Valentine’s Day 2022. Directed by Advait Chandan, the movie is a remake of the Hollywood film Forrest Gump.
Jayeshbhai Jordaar (25th February 2022)
Ranveer Singh and Shalini Pandey starrer Jayeshbhai Jordaar will be hitting the big screens on 25th February 2022. The first look poster has already created a good buzz and we are sure moviegoers are excited about the film.
Bachchan Pandey (4th March 2022)
Akshay Kumar, Kriti Sanon, Jacqueline Fernandez, and Arshad Warsi starrer Bachchan Pandey will release in theatres on 4th March 2022. The movie is directed by Farhad Samji.
Shamshera (18th March 2022)
Karan Malhotra’s Shamshera starring Ranbir Kapoor, Vaani Kapoor, and Sanjay Dutt will release on 18th March 2022. The movie, which is produced by Aditya Chopra, is a period action drama.
Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 (25th March 2022)
Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 is undoubtedly one of the most awaited upcoming movies. The Kartik Aaryan, Tabu, and Kiara Advani starrer was slated to release in November this year, but it will now release on 25th March 2022.
Mayday (29th April 2022)
Mayday has a very interesting star cast. It stars Amitabh Bachchan, Ajay Devgn, and Rakul Preet Singh. The movie is directed by Devgn and it will release on 29th April 2022.
Heropanti 2 (6th May 2022)
Tiger Shroff made his acting debut with Heropanti. He will now be seen in the sequel to the film titled Heropanti 2. Directed by Ahmed Khan, it also stars Tara Sutaria in the lead role.
Raksha Bandhan (11th August 2022)
In the next one year, Akshay Kumar will be having four releases and one of them will be Aanand L Rai’s Raksha Bandhan. The movie, which also stars Bhumi Pednekar, will release on 11th August 2022.
Well, in the coming days, we can expect the release dates of more films to be announced.
Rahul’s casual dismissal of that controversy has added fuel to the fire
Rahul Bhatt sparks controversy over 'insensitive' remarks about sisters Alia and Pooja Bhatt
Rahul Bhatt, fitness trainer and son of veteran filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt, has found himself at the centre of a social media storm following controversial remarks about his half-sister, Alia Bhatt. In a recent interview, Rahul drew comparisons between Alia and their older sister Pooja Bhatt, calling the latter more talented, attractive, and principled.
The comments, which many have labelled inappropriate and insensitive, have sparked widespread criticism online. During the interview, Rahul stated, “In my opinion, she (Alia) is not even half of what my real sister Pooja is. Not in talent, not in looks, not in terms of being sexy. In front of my sister, she is ‘paani kam chai’ (watery tea). Amongst the siblings, the most talented and the most moralistic is Pooja.”
Social media users reacted strongly, questioning why Rahul would compare his sisters in such personal terms. Several users were particularly disturbed by his reference to their appearance and sex appeal, pointing out that such comparisons within a family cross boundaries of propriety. One comment read, “This is disturbing. Why talk about your sisters like that? It’s not just weird, it’s wrong.” Another post said, “There’s nothing respectful about comparing your siblings’ attractiveness in public.”
The backlash also reignited conversation around a decades-old controversy involving Mahesh Bhatt and Pooja Bhatt. Rahul was asked about the infamous 1990s magazine cover where the father-daughter duo shared a kiss, which had stirred public outrage at the time. Dismissing the criticism, Rahul said, “It doesn’t make any difference. It’s like water off a duck’s back. We know the truth, and we’ve seen everything since childhood.”
Rahul’s casual dismissal of that controversy has added fuel to the fire, with critics saying it reflects a broader issue of the Bhatt family being insensitive to public perception and boundaries. Many users questioned the need for bringing up old incidents in a bid to defend new and equally questionable statements.
As of now, neither Alia Bhatt nor Pooja Bhatt has issued any public response to Rahul’s remarks. Both actors, known for their significant contributions to Indian cinema, have typically kept family matters private despite living in the public eye.
This episode has also sparked debate over the role of public figures in maintaining respect when discussing family matters in the media. Observers say such comments, especially when involving women’s appearance and personal qualities, reinforce problematic attitudes and fuel unnecessary controversies.
While Rahul Bhatt is not as prominent in the entertainment industry as his father or sisters, his comments have made headlines and placed the Bhatt family in the spotlight for reasons beyond their creative work. For many, this serves as a reminder that public platforms come with responsibility, and that family ties should not be trivialised or dissected for attention or comparison.
The backlash is unlikely to subside soon, especially as fans and followers of Alia and Pooja continue to express disappointment over the way the situation has unfolded. Whether or not Rahul chooses to clarify or apologise remains to be seen.