No Salman Khan Film on Eid 2026: The Roar of ‘Dhurandhar 2’ Pushes Several Releases Back

By Sharad Rai

Looking at the history of Bollywood, it may sound like an exaggeration to say that the mere announcement of one film can force several others to retreat. But considering the recent box-office reports of Dhurandhar, the situation now appears to be exactly that. It seems that just the roar announcing the arrival of its sequel, Dhurandhar 2, has made several heavyweight contenders in Bollywood anxious, fearing a crushing defeat even before entering the arena. Among these contenders is none other than Salman Khan.

Salman Khan skips Eid 2026 release shock

Reports suggest that there will be no Salman Khan release on Eid 2026. This comes as a surprise, as audiences have long been accustomed to receiving a Salman Khan “Eidi” every year. Eid 2026, which falls around March 19–20, was initially slated for the release of Salman Khan’s film The Battle of Galwan. The film had completed post-production, and its release date had reportedly been locked well in advance. However, its release has now been put on hold.

Trade experts believe this decision was taken to avoid a clash between two major releases. It is well known that Salman Khan’s Eid releases have consistently delivered strong box-office business over the years. The Battle of Galwan is also a home production under Salman Khan Productions. Directed by Apoorva Lakhia, the film is based on the 2020 Galwan Valley clash between Indian and Chinese soldiers and is a patriotic drama expected to earn thunderous applause for Salman Khan. In such a scenario, postponing its release raises serious questions.

Clearly, shifting The Battle of Galwan from March 19, 2026, to April 17, 2026—nearly two months later—signals an underlying fear. The reason is evident: Dhurandhar 2 is scheduled to release on March 19, 2026. Just like its predecessor, the makers seem to believe that the roar of Dhurandhar 2 will be impossible to ignore.

Another film affected by this reshuffle is Toxic: A Fairy Tale for Grown-Ups, which marks actor Yash’s 19th film. Its release has also been pushed back from March 19. Written and directed by Geetu Mohandas, this multi-starrer features Yash, Rukmini Vasanth, Nayanthara, Kiara Advani, Tara Sutaria, Huma Qureshi, and Akshay Oberoi.

Caught in the same time-frame is Yash Raj Films’ spy-universe venture Alpha, the franchise’s first female-led spy film. Its release has also been postponed to April 17. Alia Bhatt has been extremely excited about this project, which also stars Sharvari Wagh as another female spy. The film features Anil Kapoor and Bobby Deol, with Hrithik Roshan appearing in a special role. Despite such an exciting premise and star power, Alpha too has been forced to step aside due to the roar of Dhurandhar 2.

Another casualty is Akshay Kumar’s Bhoot Bangla, which has now been pushed to April 2, 2026. Starring Akshay Kumar, Tabu, Wamiqa Gabbi, and Paresh Rawal, the film revolves around the mysteries of a haunted mansion. Fans have been eagerly awaiting this release, especially since Akshay Kumar is expected to return in a look reminiscent of Bhool Bhulaiyaa.

In essence, Bollywood currently seems to be completely “Dhurandhar-ized.” Other producers are wary of clashing with this film and are pushing back the release dates of projects that were otherwise ready to hit theatres. Producers of films like Apnapan and Bhediya 2 have even become hesitant to announce their release dates. As some of them reportedly say, “If even a Salman Khan film is being postponed, then we certainly need to think twice.”

Such a situation may not be entirely unprecedented, but this time it truly feels like an exaggeration taken to the extreme.

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