22 of Bollywood’s most-anticipated films to release in 2021

With the pandemic raining on our parade in terms of film releases in 2020, fans can hopefully expect some top-notch movies fighting for screen time this year. Here are our top picks:

83: With Bollywood and cricket being the two biggest crowd-pullers in India, it is safe to say that ‘83’ will definitely be a win when it releases this year. The Kabir Khan directorial is based on the true story of India’s first World Cup victory in 1983. Ranveer Singh plays Captain Kapil Dev, while Deepika Padukone will play his wife Romi Dev. Tahir Raj Bhasin will be seen as Sunil Gavaskar, while other actors will play the roles of cricketing legends Mohinder Amarnath, K. Srikkanth, Dilip Vengsarkar, among others. The movie was shot on actual locations including Lords Stadium.

Sooryavanshi: Another film that will feature Ranveer Singh, but only in a cameo, as Rohit Shetty’s police franchise continues with the Akshay Kumar and Katrina Kaif-led ‘Sooryavanshi’. Kumar plays a cop who is racing against time to save Mumbai from deadly terrorists. Ajay Devgn’s Singham also makes an appearance.

The Song of Scorpions: More than three years after the film was screened at the now defunct Dubai International Film Festival (Diff), late actor Irrfan Khan’s ‘The Song of Scorpions’ is now going on general release. The film, which had had its world premiere at the 70th Locarno Film Festival in 2017, is expected to release in 2021. Set in Rajasthan, the Anup Singh directorial narrates the story of a camel trader, Aadam (Khan), who falls in love with a healer Nooran (Iranian actress Golshifteh Farahani) who has the power to draw out poison from scorpion bites with the aid of her music. The seemingly romantic tale has dark overtures when a tragedy from Nooran’s past rears its head in her present.

Bell Bottom: Inspired by true events, the film is set in the 1980s. Akshay Kumar stars as lead, playing an Indian RAW agent on the trail of a mystery. The movie, directed by Ranjit M Tewari, is slated for release in India on April 2. The movie also features Vaani Kapoor, Lara Dutta and Huma Qureshi in pivotal roles.

Radhe: Your Most Wanted Bhai: Now with even cinema houses appealing to Salman Khan to ensure his upcoming Eid release is shown at a theatre near you, suffice it to say, this upcoming potboiler will be another big one for the actor. Not much is known about the story but the fact that Jackie Shroff is also starring, with Disha Patani playing his sister.

RRR: After ‘Baahubali’, SS Rajamouli’s period drama is one of the most anticipated movies of the year. Set in the 1920s pre-Independence era, the film is reportedly based on the lives of two legendary freedom fighters — Alluri Sitarama Raju and Komaram Bheem. NTR Jr will be portraying the role of Komaram Bheem and Ram Charan will be essaying the role of Alluri Sitharama Raju. Ajay Devgn, Alia Bhatt and Olivia Morris also star. The movie is said to be made on the rumoured budget of Rs4.5 billion. While the film was initially set to release on January 8, we can now hope the teaser drops on January 26.

Jersey: Another cricket film narrates the story of an underdog who hits back after failing in his career in his prime. Shahid Kapoor plays failed cricket Arjun who returns to bat for Team India in his 30s. The film is a remake of the Telugu hit and is directed by Gowtam Tinnanuri. Mrunal Thakur also stars.

KGF 2: Fans who lapped up Kannada superstar Yash in the first part will be happy to know the second part of the fictional mob drama drops in 2021. The sequel traces the journey of criminal, Rocky, with Sanjay Dutt taking another negative turn as Adheera.

Pathan: While no big announcement has been made as yet, the film is reportedly Shah Rukh Khan’s comeback to the big screen after two years. The actor himself has confirmed he will return to the screen this year, only further cementing speculation. What we hear is John Abraham, Deepika Padukone, Dimple Kapadia will also star, with a cameo by Salman Khan that may be filmed in the Middle East.

Laal Singh Chaddha: Kareena Kapoor Khan may be busy these days with the anticipated birth of her second child, but that’s not all fans can expect from her. Kapoor Khan will star in the much talked about remake of ‘Forrest Gump’, titled ‘Laal Singh Chaddha’. That Aamir Khan is playing the role immortalised by Tom Hanks is just the icing on the cake. The Advait Chandan directorial is slated to arrive on Christmas.

Brahmastra: A lot has been said and written about the Ranbir Kapoor and Alia Bhatt romance. But fans will finally get to see their on-screen chemistry in this Ayan Mukerji-directed superhero adventure, which also stars Amitabh Bachchan, Nagarjuna and Mouni Roy. The movie is supposed to the first part in a trilogy.

Cirkus: Ranveer Singh is going to have a bumper year with yet another release, where he reunites with Rohit Shetty for the adaptation of a Shakespearean comedy. We know that Singh will play a double role in the story inspired bt ‘The Comedy of Errors’ that follows two sets of identical twins separated at birth. The film is set to release in the winter of 2021.

Gangubai Kathiawadi: It will be interesting to see Alia Bhatt play a gritty character in this Sanjay Leela Bhansali directorial. The actress plays the titular role in this biopic which will explore the dark underbelly of crime in Mumbai through the eyes of a sex worker turned mobster.

Prithviraj: Another Akshay Kumar-starrer to hits the screens is the historical drama that sees the actor play the role of famed fighter Prithviraj Chauhan. The film is directed by Dr Chandraprakash Dwivedi and will also serve as a launch pad for former Miss World Manushi Chhillar. We can’t wait.

Phone Bhoot: Finally, a horror-comedy we can look forward to with anticipation. Katrina Kaif, Ishaan Khatter and ‘Gully Boy’s’ Siddhant Chaturvedi are reportedly playing ghostbusters in this Gurmeet Singh directorial. The movie, produced by Farhan Akhtar and Ritesh Sidhwani, recently started filming.

Bhoot Police: Another movie that is set up be on similar lines as ‘Phone Bhoot’ is this Saif Ali Khan-starrer, which also features Jacqueline Fernandez, Yami Gautam, Arjun Kapoor and Jaaved Jaaferi. This horror-comedy is directed by Pawan Kripalani.

Sardar Udham Singh: What is a year without a Vicky Kaushal film, we ask? The talented actor will play martyr Udham Singh who was assassinated Michael O’Dwyer, the former lieutenant governor of Punjab in pre-Independence India, to avenge the horrors of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre of Amritsar in 1919. Singh was hanged in 1940. The film is directed by Shoojit Sircar.

Maidaan: This year will truly be the year of sports films, with Ajay Devgn’s ‘Maidaan’ set to release in October. The film is based on the life of football coach Syed Abdul Rahim, who managed the Indian national team from 1950 until his death in 1963. He is said to have changed the way the game was appreciated in India.

Takht: What’s a year without a Karan Johar magnum opus to send us off into the new year? The filmmaker leads an all-star cast that includes Ranveer Singh, Vicky Kaushal, Anil Kapoor, Janhvi Kapoor, Kareena Kapoor Khan and Bhumi Pednekar. According to reports, Kaushal will play Prince Aurangzeb and Singh will play older brother who fight for the throne of India.

Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2: Following up on the 2007 horror comedy ‘Bhool Bhulaiyaa’, which starred Akshay Kumar, Shiney Ahuja, Vidya Balan and Ameesha Patel, director Anees Bazmee has said that the new film is a different tale with different characters. The new film will have a fresh cast led by Kartik Aaryan, Kiara Advani and Tabu. It will reportedly include two songs from the original film.

Toofan: A beefed up Farhan Khan impressed us in ‘Bhaag Milkha Bhaag’. And now he returns as a boxer in this Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra directorial. The film also stars Paresh Rawal, Mrunal Thakur and Isha Talwar.

Roohi Afzana: In a year of horror-comedies, this is one that stands out, what with Rajkummar Rao taking the lead after ‘Stree’. The movie is directed by Hardik Mehta and also stars Janhvi Kapoor. What we know so far is that there’s a ghost who abducts brides on their honeymoons. A Halloween release would be apt.