December’s Hindi film lineup is undergoing significant changes, bringing a fresh twist to the holiday season. Mark your calendars for December 5th when Ranveer Singh’s highly anticipated ‘Dhurandar’ premieres. However, Aamir Khan’s son Junaid’s upcoming flick, ‘Mere Raho’, finds itself in a precarious position, with potential competition from Kapil Sharma’s comedy sequel, ‘Kis Kisko Pyar Karoon 2’.
Until just a few months ago, December was shaping up to be one of the busiest months for Hindi cinema, with every weekend packed with major releases. But in a dramatic turn of events, the entire calendar has gone for a spin. What once promised a lineup of star-studded films is now witnessing reshuffles, postponements, and unexpected clashes. As of Monday, November 3, the release landscape for December looks entirely different.
Ranveer Singh holds ground with Dhurandar
Among the few constants in this shifting scenario is Ranveer Singh’s much-awaited action spectacle Dhurandar, which continues to hold its release date of December 5. Directed by Aditya Dhar, film marks Ranveer’s return to big-screen masala entertainment after Karan Johar’s Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahani . a brief gap. The trailer is expected to drop on November 12, and the makers are confident of dominating the early December box office window.
The uncertainty around Mere Raho
While Dhurandar seems firmly positioned, the same cannot be said for Aamir Khan’s son Junaid Khan’s upcoming project, Mere Raho, co-starring Sai Pallavi. The film, produced by Aamir Khan Productions was announced in September for a December 12 release. However, since then, there has been no official update or fresh announcement from the makers, leading to speculation that the film might be postponed. If Mere Raho does release on December 12 as originally planned, it will face direct competition from Kapil Sharma’s Kis Kisko Pyar Karoon 2, the comedian’s return to his beloved debut film after several years. The first film, released in 2015, was a sleeper hit, and Sharma’s sequel is expected to target the family audience during the festive month.A clash between Mere Raho and Kis Kisko Pyar Karu 2 could split the audience, especially in smaller centers, where both Kapil and Aamir Khan’s brand of cinema hold strong appeal.
James Cameron’s Avatar: Fire and Ash stands solo
The one film that has remained unaffected through all the reshuffling is James Cameron’s Avatar: Ash and Fire, which will enjoy a solo release on December 19. The sequel continues the saga of Pandora and is expected to perform strongly across Indian markets, including dubbed versions in Hindi, Tamil, and Telugu.Given the global anticipation surrounding the film, Indian studios have largely avoided the weekend, leaving Cameron’s visual spectacle unchallenged. The film’s long run could also spill into the Christmas and New Year weekends, further discouraging major Bollywood clashes around that time.
The Christmas clash: Ikkis vs Tu Meri Main Tera
If December 19 belongs to Avatar, then December 25 is fast becoming Bollywood’s biggest battlefield.Initially, the date was blocked by Alia Bhatt, Sharvari Wagh, and Bobby Deol’s action-thriller Alpha, directed by Shiv Rawail. The film was expected to be one of YRF’s key releases of the year, but the makers recently announced a new release date of April 17, 2026, citing the need for additional time to fine-tune its extensive VFX work. The delay opened up one of the most lucrative windows on the calendar -Christmas week.Sensing an opportunity, Dinesh Vijan quickly moved to occupy the date with Sriram Raghavan’s Ikkis, starring Agastya Nanda as war hero Arun Khetarpal. However, Ikkis won’t have a clear run. Soon after Vijan’s move, Karan Johar announced that his upcoming romantic drama, Tu Meri Main Tera Main Tera Tu Meri starring Kartik Aaryan and Ananya Panday which was earlier planned for 31st December release, would also hit theaters on December 25. The film now aims to capitalize on the Christmas-to-New-Year holiday stretch, a period traditionally dominated by high-gloss family entertainers.
The exit of Dacait
Adding to the shuffle, the crime drama Dacait, starring Mrunal Thakur, Adivi Sesh, and Anurag Kashyap, has officially vacated the Christmas window. The film was initially slated for December 25, but the makers recently announced a new release date March 19, 2026. The exit of Dacait simplifies the year-end lineup slightly but underscores the volatility that has gripped the December slate. Go to Source
