Ranbir Kapoor confirms discussing “different ideas” with Sandeep Reddy Vanga amid Animal Part 3 buzz

 The highly anticipated sequel to the 2023 blockbuster "Animal," titled "Animal Park," is set to begin production in the middle of 2027, as confirmed by director Sandeep Reddy Vanga. This update came during a recent interaction, putting an end to various speculations regarding the timeline of the franchise’s next installment.

Interestingly, Ranbir Kapoor’s comments on discussing various creative ideas come amid reports that Vanga may be planning a third installment in the franchise.

 According to journalist Subhash K Jha, a source close to the development revealed that the filmmaker's original vision expanded during the writing process.

"The original plan was to tell the story in two films.

 But while writing the second part, he realized the narrative had far more depth and material than could be contained in just one more installment. That’s when the possibility of a third part entered the picture," the source was quoted as saying.

Director Sandeep Reddy Vanga has already stated that "Animal Park" will expand the narrative introduced in "Animal," featuring heightened conflict and multiple power centers.

 The title itself suggests the broader scale of the sequel, which will depict a larger clash of characters and ideologies. Vanga had previously described the film as a battle between two equally fierce forces within the same universe.

Ranbir Kapoor, who played Ranvijay Singh in "Animal," has expressed excitement about returning to the franchise.

 Speaking about the sequel, the actor said, "I can’t wait to get back on set with Sandeep and play this character—and now another character. Because it’s a continuing story, Sandeep had part two very clear in his mind even while filming part one."

He further added, "So, it's very inspiring for me as an actor.

 Sandeep and I keep chatting with each other through the week or month and keep discussing different ideas. I really can’t wait to get back to playing Ranvijay and Aziz." His comments have further fueled curiosity about how the story might evolve beyond "Animal Park."

With "Animal" emerging as one of the most talked-about and commercially successful films of 2023, expectations for the sequel remain high.

 While "Animal Park" is confirmed to begin production in mid-2027, reports of a potential third film suggest that the "Animal" franchise may be shaping up as a longer-running cinematic universe than initially planned.

MARDAANI makes history – only female cop franchise to succeed in 113 years of Hindi cinema, lands unprecedented hattrick of hits

In the 113-year journey of Hindi cinema, various genres have evolved, stars have come and gone, and audience preferences have changed dramatically. However, one particular space has consistently resisted success: the female-led police procedural. Against this backdrop, the Mardaani franchise has achieved something unique in Hindi cinema — three successful theatrical films featuring a solo female police officer, starring Rani Mukerji.

 The franchise has now delivered a hattrick of hits, with a strong opening weekend that saw figures of Rs. 17 crore on Friday, Rs. 25 crore on Saturday, Rs. 4 crore on Sunday, and Rs. 7.25 crore on Sunday. This organic growth indicates word-of-mouth appeal rather than initial curiosity, reaffirming the theatrical market's interest in content-driven cinema.

Historically, female-led police films have faced structural challenges in the Hindi cinema market.

 Police procedurals, which often lack the exaggerated mass heroism typical of other genres, are frequently seen as niche. Female-led action thrillers tend to be underfunded or under-marketed, limiting their reach even before release. Moreover, authority-driven narratives have traditionally been associated with male stars, making it harder to gain audience acceptance for women in such roles.

As a result, films featuring women in uniform have either shifted to ensemble storytelling or struggled to achieve meaningful commercial success.

 Sustained success with a solo female protagonist in this genre has been rare until the Mardaani series.

The success of the Mardaani franchise was not due to scale or spectacle, but rather through consistency and credibility.

 The first Mardaani, released 18 years into Rani Mukerji's career, introduced Shivani Shivaji Roy as a grounded, no-frills police officer. The film, mounted on a mid-range budget and targeting an adult audience, succeeded quietly yet decisively, proving that a female cop could anchor a serious thriller without gimmicks or dilution.

Mardaani 2, released 23 years after Mukerji's debut, took the franchise further.

 Darker, more intense, and uncompromising in tone, the sequel tested audience appetite for a grimmer narrative and succeeded. Its success confirmed that the franchise was not a one-off, but a sustainable theatrical property.

This trust has continued into Mardaani 3, released nearly 30 years into Mukerji's career, in a post-pandemic environment where most female-led thrillers opt for direct-to-digital releases.

 The film's steady growth from Friday to Sunday indicates organic word of mouth and reaffirms the market's interest in content-driven cinema.

What makes this achievement particularly significant is its longevity.

 Across nearly three decades in Hindi cinema (1996–2026), Rani Mukerji has continued to deliver theatrical successes as a solo lead — a rarity in the industry. Few actresses globally, and arguably none in Hindi cinema, have sustained a solo-led franchise over such an extended period.

The Mardaani series has thrived across three major phases of the industry — the pre-OTT era, the peak of multiplex cinema, and the post-pandemic theatrical market.

 Each film has consistently reinforced the idea that female-driven authority roles can be commercially successful when supported by credibility, restraint, and consistency.

With three successful theatrical films, the Mardaani series now stands as the only female cop franchise to maintain consistent box-office success in the history of Hindi cinema.

 This achievement is unprecedented and challenges long-held assumptions surrounding gender, genre, and box-office viability.

In delivering this rare hattrick, Rani Mukerji has not only defied industry skepticism but has carved out a legacy that may take years — if not decades — for Hindi cinema to replicate.

GANDHARI: Taapsee Pannu leads this dark, myth-laced Netflix thriller of maternal fury

Netflix has officially unveiled Gandhari, a powerful new thriller-drama set to release in 2026. This project is expected to be one of Netflix’s most intense Indian originals so far. The film is led by Taapsee Pannu, and it combines strong emotions, high-energy action, and mystery inspired by ancient myths, centered around a mother who is forced to fight back when everything she loves is taken from her.

  

The story begins when a mother’s young daughter is taken from a busy railway station, a tragedy that breaks her spirit.

 Then, she survives a violent attack that leaves her temporarily blind. The film shows her journey through pain, fear, and strength as she faces a dangerous child-trafficking group hidden within a town filled with magic and ancient secrets. As the story moves forward, she becomes a powerful figure of revenge, determined to find her child and save others before it’s too late.

Gandhari is directed by Devashish Makhija, who is known for his honest storytelling and dark, atmospheric films.

 The project is written and produced by Kanika Dhillon. The film features a strong group of actors including Ishwak Singh, Chhaya Kadam, Swastika Mukherjee, Mita Vashisht, and Jatin Sarna, each playing a key role in bringing the film’s intense and layered world to life.

The team behind Gandhari shared, “We wanted to tell a raw, emotional action story that shows a mother’s strong instinct to protect her child.

 This film brings together intense action, mystery, and deeply personal stakes, led by a powerful female character on an unstoppable journey. Working with Netflix again gives us the chance to tell this bold story in the way it deserves to be told, and we’re excited to share Gandhari with audiences worldwide.”

Kanika Dhillon added, “Taapsee and I have a great creative connection that lets us push boundaries.

 With Gandhari, we’re not just telling a story—we’re exploring the strength of a mother’s love through powerful action that hasn’t been seen before in our work together.”

Gandhari mixes elements of folklore, realistic social issues, and emotional storytelling, positioning itself as a bold new addition to Netflix’s growing lineup of Indian content.

 Taapsee Pannu’s role as a woman facing both inner and outer challenges has made the film one of the most exciting announcements from Netflix’s February 3 release.

Ramayana makers to reveal character looks at Gateway of India on March 27, 2026: Report

 Ramayana makers to reveal character looks at Gateway of India on March 27, 2026: Report  

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The Ramayana adaptation, directed by Nitesh Tiwari and produced by Namit Malhotra’s Prime Focus Studios, has generated substantial interest among both audiences and industry insiders, in part due to its ambitious scope and large ensemble.

 Ranbir Kapoor is set to portray Lord Rama, with Sai Pallavi as Sita and Yash in the role of Ravana. Other key cast members include Sunny Deol as Hanuman and Ravi Dubey as Lakshman, among others.

The upcoming event, described by the report as a “grand showcase,” will reportedly bring together notable personalities from film, sports and public life, with invitations already being circulated.

 Senior leaders from both the state and central governments are expected to attend alongside actors and other industry figures.

According to the report, Ranbir Kapoor has personally invited close friends and family to witness the character look reveal.

 It will mark the first time the characters from the Ramayana universe are being unveiled to the public.

The event is seen as a strategic move to build anticipation for the epic film, which has been positioned as one of the most ambitious mythological adaptations in Indian cinema.

 The first part of Ramayana is slated for an IMAX release during Diwali 2026, with the story divided into two parts, the second of which is expected around Diwali 2027.

Adivi Sesh-Mrunal Thakur starrer Dacoit to release on April 10; makers of Pan-India action entertainer realign strategy amid multiple big releases

 The exciting teaser of Dacoit was launched with a lot of fanfare in December, in the presence of its lead actors, Adivi Sesh, Mrunal Thakur, and Anurag Kashyap. The Pan-India action entertainer was originally scheduled for a release on March 19, 2026, but it has now been postponed.

According to a source, "With March witnessing multiple releases and announcements, the makers of Dacoit have thoughtfully realigned the film's release plans, shifting the date to April 10.

 It was earlier set to arrive alongside Dhurandhar: The Revenge and Toxic: A Fairytale For Grown-Ups, making it a time when multiple highly anticipated films were slated to release together. The team holds great respect for both Dhurandhar as well as Toxic and their creative teams, and firmly believes that every theatrical release deserves its own moment with audiences."

Trade sources believe that postponing the release date of Dacoit, previously described by the makers as a "gold fish" among larger releases, reflects the makers' confidence in the film's content and its ability to strike a chord with the audiences.

 The source added, "Staying true to that thought, the decision to move to April 10 comes from a place of fairness and clarity, ensuring that Dacoit gets its due spotlight while audiences can enjoy all films on their own terms. It also reflects strategic planning and thoughtful timing, focused on the film's theatrical experience."

Dacoit is directed by Abhinay Deo, produced by Supriya Yarlagadda, and backed by S S Creations and Suniel Narang Production.

 As for Dhurandhar: The Revenge, it is the sequel to the much-loved blockbuster, directed by Mohan Lal. Toxic: A Fairytale For Grown-Ups is a multi-starrer, starring Yash of KGF fame, Nayanthara, Kiara Advani, Huma Qureshi, Tara Sutaria, Rukmini Vasanth, Akshay Oberoi, and others.

Variety’s Rs. 50–60 cr. Dhurandhar: The Revenge music deal claim BUSTED – real figure is Rs. 27 cr.

The music rights deal for Dhurandhar: The Revenge has sparked considerable discussion since the film's scale and ambition became apparent. A recent report by Variety India claimed that the film, starring Ranveer Singh and Akshaye Khanna, secured a massive music rights deal worth between Rs. 50-60 crore with T-Series, making it one of the most expensive music rights acquisitions in Hindi cinema history. However, source has independently fact-checked this claim and found the figures to be significantly inflated. The real figure is Rs. 27 crore.

According to an industry insider close to T-Series, the actual amount paid for the music rights of Dhurandhar: The Revenge is Rs. 27 crores, approximately half of what has been widely reported.

 The deal covers four languages — Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, and Kannada — making it a comprehensive multi-lingual acquisition rather than a single-language purchase. The insider told source that the numbers circulating are exaggerated, and the Variety report is inaccurate. It fails to account for how multi-language deals are structured, bundled, and valued in the current music rights market. The real figure is Rs. 27 crores, which is still a strong deal by industry standards, especially considering the evolving economics of music monetisation.

Although the corrected figure does not match the initially reported astronomical numbers, the deal remains a significant milestone for the franchise.

 The first Dhurandhar fetched Rs. 15 crores for its music rights, and the sequel has nearly doubled that value, highlighting the franchise’s increasing commercial credibility following the success of the first film.

Industry insiders note that multi-language music rights are increasingly bundled into a single deal, particularly for big-ticket pan-Indian films.

 This often leads to confusion when headline figures are presented without clarity on language scope, revenue-sharing models, or backend clauses.

What remains undisputed is that Dhurandhar: The Revenge has become one of the most valuable music acquisitions of the year, reinforcing the film’s strong pre-release buzz and the continued dominance of T-Series in the music rights market.

 The combination of Ranveer Singh’s mass appeal, Akshaye Khanna’s gravitas, and the franchise’s expanding footprint across markets has clearly translated into solid commercial confidence.

Source will continue to track and verify industry deals to separate fact from speculation in an increasingly noise-driven news cycle.

Makers of Dhurandhar: The Revenge CONFIRM March 19, 2026 release; first poster featuring Ranveer Singh out!

As Dhurandhar continues to do well in theaters, the makers, Jio Studios and B62 Studios, have released the first poster and title for the highly expected second film, Dhurandhar: The Revenge.

The creators of Dhurandhar: The Revenge have shared that the movie will be released on March 19, 2026.

The first poster shows Ranveer Singh in a new and strong look.

 He is standing in the middle of the poster wearing a black trench coat with his hair loose, against a bright red background. He looks powerful and threatening. The image gives a sense that the story will have more action, more tension, and a more intense plot than before.

Directed by Aditya Dhar, Dhurandhar is currently the biggest Hindi movie ever made and has become a big part of popular culture.

With Dhurandhar: The Revenge, the story is going to get even bigger, more thrilling, and more powerful on screen.

The movie will be shown in theaters on March 19, 2026, which is the same day as Eid, Gudi Padwa, and Ugadi.

It will be in Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, and Malayalam.

 This is because there is a lot of demand for the movie across South India, and 2026 is being called The Year of Dhurandhar.

Dhurandhar: The Revenge is a fast-paced spy action thriller written, directed, and produced by Aditya Dhar.

It is also produced by Jyoti Deshpande and Lokesh Dhar.

 Presented by Jio Studios, this B62 Studios production is getting ready for a big movie event starting on March 19, 2027.