Though its southern counterparts have already announced close to 20 releases, the Hindi movie industry had been surprisingly silent even after the government permitted 100 percent occupancy.
But all that may change with Yash Raj Films, India's premium production house, stepping forward to announce its slate of films that will release in theatres this year.
Sandeep Aur Pinky Faraar
March 19
Dibakar Banerjee's long-delayed film has been ready for a while and was supposed to release around the same time last year.
After the lockdown was announced in March 2020, the film was indefinitely pushed.
Parineeti Chopra will now have a double bill of sorts as her Netflix film, The Girl In The Train, is releasing this month.
Meanwhile, her Ishaqzaade co-star Arjun Kapoor is probably hoping that the year begins well for him with this fun-on-the-run movie.
Bunty Aur Babli 2
April 23
When lockdown was partially lifted around Diwali last year and theatres were allowed to open with 50 percent occupancy, there was strong buzz that YRF would release their romcom sequel Bunty Aur Babli 2.
Debutant Director Varun V Sharma must have been anxious to know when does his film would eventually release in theatres.
Now, Saif Ali Khan, Rani Mukerji, Siddhant Chaturvedi and Sharvari will finally be seeing their film arrive this April.
Shamshera
June 25
Ranbir Kapoor makes few films.
His last screen arrival was back in 2018, with the blockbuster, Sanju.
Though he was supposed to be seen in Shamshera last year, just like most films, this got pushed too.
This film about dacoits will release this summer.
Interestingly, ,Shamshera also stars Sanjay Dutt, on whose life Ranbir had made Sanju.
Vaani Kapoor, whose last release War was a major blockbuster, joins in this film directed by Agneepath's Karan Malhotra.
Jayeshbhai Jordaar
August 27
Like Bunty Aur Babli 2, even Jayeshbhai Jordaar was to have an early release once the lockdown was lifted partially.
But it looks like the makers want Ranveer Singh's cricket drama '83 to open first, which may be eyeing a summer release.
Jayeshbhai Jordaar is special since it also marks the big screen debut of Shalini Pandey, who was the leading lady of the Telugu film Arjun Reddy, on which the blockbuster Kabir Singh was based.
The film is directed by youngster Divyang Thakkar, who has, in fact, won accolades as a leading man (along with Pratik Gandhi of Scam 1992 fame) in the Gujarati superhit Bey Yaar.
Boman Irani and Ratna Pathak Shah have key parts in the film as well.
Prithviraj
November 5
Prithviraj could not make it to theatres last Diwali, but it returns as YRF's big-ticket release this Diwali.
Akshay Kumar leads the show in this magnum opus.
The actor will be seen in multiple films this year, and Prithviraj is unarguably the biggest.
Dr Chandraprakash Dwivedi directs this action drama that features Sanjay Dutt and Sonu Sood in key roles.
Former Miss India Manushi Chhillar will make her much-awaited big screen debut.
