No Bollywood release on Holi for the FIRST time in 15 years; Gaiety-Galaxy and other screens FORCED to cut down on shows amid content drought until Eid; Dhurandhar vs Toxic clash adds to exhibitors’ woes 15 : Bollywood News

Over the year, producers have capitalized on the festive mood of Holi, banking on holiday footfalls to deliver strong openings. Even during the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2021, the makers of Saina, starring Parineeti Chopra, took a bold call to release their film around the festival. Hence, it comes as a genuine surprise and shock that, for the first time in years, Holi 2026 will pass without a single major Hindi film release.

No Bollywood release on Holi for the FIRST time in 15 years; Gaiety-Galaxy and other screens FORCED to cut down on shows amid content drought until Eid; Dhurandhar vs Toxic clash adds to exhibitors’ woesBollywood Hungama went through the list of Holi releases in the last 26 years, since the year 2000, and learned that films like Chori Chori Chupke Chupke (2001), Malamaal Weekly (2006), Race (2008), Badrinath Ki Dulhania (2017), Kesari (2019), Tu Jhoothi Main Makkaar (2023) etc. had arrived in cinemas on Holi and tasted success. In fact, there have been only three instances – 2002, 2003 and 2011 – when Holi saw no notable Hindi release. Interestingly, in 2003 and 2011, the ICC Cricket World Cup played spoilsport, prompting producers to avoid a clash with the high-voltage sporting event.

History seems to be repeating itself in 2026. The ongoing T20 World Cup is believed to be one of the primary reasons why filmmakers have steered clear of the Holi corridor. In an exclusive interview with Bollywood Hungama, director Abhiraj Minawala confirmed that Yash Raj Films preponed Mardaani 3 from February 27 to January 30 to avoid the cricket fever gripping the nation.

Meanwhile, Pati Patni Aur Woh Do and Gabru, originally slated for March 4 and March 13, respectively, have now been pushed to May 8 and May 15. Apart from cricket, the overlap with the holy month of Ramzan and ongoing examinations has further dampened the potential audience turnout. To add to that, with Dhurandhar: The Revenge and Toxic gearing up for explosive runs during Eid, producers found little incentive to risk a release in what appears to be a relatively dry and uncertain period.

This dry spell has put exhibitors in a tight spot as they struggle to sustain operations until March 19, when the much-awaited biggies finally hit cinemas. In the absence of strong content, theatres have begun cutting costs by reducing the number of shows. Exhibition sources reveal that some multiplexes may even temporarily shut a few screens due to the severe content crunch.

The impact was visible last weekend at Mumbai’s iconic G7 multiplex (Gaiety-Galaxy). Galaxy, the 818-seater auditorium, remained shut, while O’Romeo was screened at the 991-seater Gaiety with four shows daily. During the weekdays, management have adopted a split-show strategy between the two large cinemas – the 12:30 pm and 6:30 pm shows are held at Gaiety, while the 3:30 pm and 9:30 pm shows are shifted to Galaxy. According to sources, this arrangement was purely logistical, as there isn’t a single film in the current slate strong enough to sustain continuous afternoon-to-night screenings across both of these massive auditoriums.

Recent releases like Assi and Do Deewane Seher Mein have failed to draw audiences, and the upcoming slate, including regional and Hollywood offerings, does not promise any significant footfalls either. As a result, exhibitors are simply trying to weather the storm until the Eid releases revive momentum at the box office.

Exhibitors speak up

Exhibitor and distributor Akshaye Rathi explained, “The nature of this business is to sustain with films from tentpole to tentpole; that’s when you really make money. The approach to running a theatre is akin to that of venture capitalists – you place your bet against all your options, out of which, a few will perform, a few will help you sustain and a few will not even allow you to make any profit. While we wait for Dhurandhar and Toxic, the hope is that all the other films that come along allow us to break even operationally week by week. Unfortunately, that hasn’t happened in the last few weeks. As a result, our hopes are pinned on the Eid releases, unless a surprise comes along.”

Vishek Chauhan, owner of Roopbani Cinema in Purnia, Bihar, explained, “This happens every year. T20 matches don’t affect footfalls. Our most powerful demographic is busy with examinations right now. Moreover, Ramzan has traditionally been a period where significant films don’t release.”

However, Satadeep Saha, CEO of SSR Cinemas Pvt Ltd, confirmed, “This is very unusual and not good for the industry. We are now totally dependent on Dhurandhar and Toxic, which are releasing almost a month later. This is nonsensical. Koi film release nahin karna chahta hai. What am I supposed to do until then? Shut down my theatre?”

He added, “Such gaps spoil the habit of going to the cinema every week. Ideally, Assi and Do Deewane Seher Mein shouldn’t have clashed. One of them should have arrived on Holi. There has to be at least one film on Holi. On the one hand, we are planning to build more cinemas. But if we have to shut down some screens for a few weeks, it’s not a good sign.”

Distributor and exhibitor Raj Bansal explained, “There’s a dry period at present. Two films have worked in 2026 until now – Border 2 and Mardaani 3. The last 2-3 weeks have not been encouraging.” He also remarked, “In the last couple of years, Holi is anyway not turning out to be a great period to release. The examinations also coincide during the same time.”

He optimistically added, “This happens often, when business is dry just before the release of biggies. Its like the lull before the storm!”

Kiritbhai T Vaghasia, who runs The Friday Cinema multiplex in Surat, echoes Satadeep Saha’s sentiments, “I don’t recall an instance where there has been no film on Holi.” He revealed, “There are hardly any viewers in cinemas. The new films, Assi and Do Deewane Seher Mein, are not appealing to the audience that frequent my cinema, despite good reports. Mardaani 3 did well but is now on its last legs. To cut down on operating costs, I am not playing any shows in the morning. Shows begin at 12 noon in my theatre and the last show is at 9:00 pm or 9:15 pm.”

He also said, “I am wondering how to sustain until March 19. I can’t tell my staff, ‘There’s no film running right now. Come back after a month’.”

Exhibitors have now pinned hopes on the February 27 release, The Kerala Story: Goes Beyond, and that its controversial content pulls in the audience. An exhibitor said, on condition of anonymity, “The earlier part opened well and then went on another level. As of now, barely any tickets of The Kerala Story: Goes Beyond have been sold across the country. My hopes are limited as anything can happen with such films – they either go unnoticed or overperform.”

Vishek Chauhan said, “There’s good enquiry for The Kerala Story. There’s a section of the audience that will definitely come to see it.” He said that he if it works, it’ll help them sustain until Eid. He sighed, “Kisi tarike se zinda rahein aadmi!”

Dhurandhar vs Toxic

Sadly, all will not be fine even after Eid as the gigantic clash will also affect exhibitors. Vishek Chauhan thundered, “The exhibition sector in India is struggling. Both these films are much-awaited. Yash is returning after 4 years. Dhurandhar’s first part, meanwhile, was such a huge hit. If they don’t clash, they’ll be at an advantage. Also, the poor single-screen cinema owners will suffer the most. Sadly, these single screens will be forced to choose one of the two films. It’ll lead to massive revenue loss. Both Toxic and Dhurandhar are such films that they don’t need the safety net of festivals. Also, both are massy films and will target the widest possible audience. Therefore, they shouldn’t be clashing at any cost.”

He added, “Show-sharing ke naam pe sabki nani marne lagti hai! They want to clash but don’t want to share shows. Does that make sense? God forbid if one of the two films doesn’t have encouraging reports, woh film agle din marr jaayegi.”

Satadeep Saha agreed, “We wonder why these films are clashing. We would want both films to do business and not attempt to kill each other. In fact, we would also suffer in this mayhem. If one of the films fails to meet expectations, toh fir bahut gadbad ho jaayega.”

The clash will affect not just single-screens but also multiplexes. Kiritbhai T Vaghasia, who runs a three-screen theatre, confirmed, “Dhurandhar and Toxic’s clash will make it tough for us.”

An exhibitor commented, “We understand that this is a dry period and hence, there’s lack of releases. But later in the year, there will be multiple releases in a week. Hence, if there was better planning, releases could have been spaced out throughout the year and we wouldn’t had to go weeks without films. This happened in 2024 as well when we had multiple releases on Independence Day and Diwali followed by no films arriving in cinemas for more than month. We fear this might happen a lot this year too looking at the release calendar ahead.”

Holi releases since 2000:
2025 – The Diplomat
2024 – Madgaon Express, Swatantrya Veer Savarkar
2023 – Tu Jhoothi Main Makkaar
2022 – Bachchhan Paandey
2021 – Saina
2020 – Baaghi 3, Kaamyaab
2019 – Kesari, Mard Ko Dard Nahi Hota
2018 – Pari, Veerey Ki Wedding
2017 – Badrinath Ki Dulhania
2016 – Rocky Handsome
2015 – Dirty Politics, Hey Bro, Badmashiyaan (NH10 was originally scheduled for release on Holi but was delayed by a week due to censor issues)
2014 – Bewakoofiyan
2013 – Aatma, Rangrezz
2012 – Kahaani, Chaar Din Ki Chandni
2011 – None
2010 – Karthik Calling Karthik, Teen Patti
2009 – 13B, Dhoondte Reh Jaaoge, Karma Aur Holi
2008 – Race
2007 – Nehlle Pe Dehlla, Nishabd
2006 – Malamaal Weekly, Jigyaasa
2005 – Zeher, Tango Charlie
2004 – Insaaf: The Justice
2003 – None
2002 – None
2001 – Chori Chori Chupke Chupke
2000 – Le Chal Apne Sang, Sultaan