What we do know, however, is that there’s an exciting slate of films to look forward to. Here are the most anticipated Bollywood titles of 2022 –
Prithviraj Akshay Kumar saddles up as valiant Chahamana dynasty ruler Prithviraj Chauhan. In late 12th century, Prithviraj fought off Muhammad of Ghor, but eventually lost.The film is directed by Chandraprakash Dwivedi (Pinjar, Mohalla Assi). Also with Miss World Manushi Chhillar in her Bollywood debut. Release date: January 21Gehraiyaan Shakun Batra (Kapoor & Sons) returns with a moody tale of love and loss. Deepika Padukone leads a promising cast (yes, Ananya included).A trailer is awaited, though early word pegs the film as a ‘domestic noir’. Release date: January 25 (Amazon Prime Video)Attack Given the cataleptic tendencies of John Abraham’s recent characters, it’s wholly fitting that the actor has finally been cast as a cyborg.Lakshya Raj Anand’s film looks high on action and sci-fi. The hostage thriller is supposedly inspired by real events. Also with Jacqueline Fernandez and Rakul Preet Singh. Release date: 28 JanuaryShabaash Mithu Taapsee Pannu stars as Indian women’s cricket captain Mithali Raj. Born in a Tamil family in Jodhpur, Mithali made her One Day International debut for India in 1999. She led the IndiaShe led the Indian side to the Women's Cricket World Cup final twice. She is also the highest run-scorer in women’s international cricket. Release date: February 4Gangubai Kathiawadi It’s never an easy release for Sanjay Leela Bhansali. His latest, starring Alia Bhatt as 60’s mafia queen Gangubai, is no exception.Twice pushed, the film is finally opening in theatres in February. Before that, it will have its world premiere at the 72nd Berlin International Film Festival. Release date: February 18Shamshera A tribe of dacoits take on the British Empire in this action epic. Ranbir Kapoor, who played Sanjay Dutt in his 2018 biopic, is starring beside him.The film was shot in Ladakh and Mumbai. It’s another sprawling spectacle from Yash Raj Films, and a chance to undo the horrors of Thugs of Hindostan. Release date: March 18Anek Three years after Article 15, Anubhav Sinha and Ayushmann Khurrana have reteamed for another socially-conscious thriller.Precious little has been revealed about the plot. All we got is that Ayushmann is playing a character named Joshua. Release date: March 31Liger Vijay Devarakonda’s Bollywood debut…. Karan Johar’s production…. Mike Tyson’s cameo…. what more do you need? Release date: August 25Laal Singh Chaddha Robert Downey Jr once called Aamir Khan the ‘Tom Hanks of India’. The statement resurfaced as Aamir worked on Laal Singh Chaddha, the official Hindi adaptation of Forrest Gump.Atul Kulkarni’s screenplay follows an autistic man as he brushes up against key upheavals in Indian history. “Life is like a box of laddoos…” Release date: April 14Mission Majnu Shershaah fame Sidharth Malhotra goes on another nation-rescuing mission. Set in the 70s, the film tells the story of ‘India’s most courageous mission in the heart of Pakistan’.Also featuring Rashmika Mandanna in her Bollywood debut. Release date: May 13Maidaan Amit Sharma directed the surprise hit Badhaai Ho in 2018. His canvas is much larger now, revisiting the golden age of Indian football.Ajay Devgn stars as coach Syed Abdul Rahim, who led India into the semi-finals of the 1956 Melbourne Olympics. The selection is regarded as a highpoint in Indian football.Adipurush Om Raut directs a large-scale adaptation of the Ramayana. Instead of a pretty-faced Bollywood boy, it’s Prabhas who is playing the lead.All eyes, though, are on Saif Ali Khan’s Lankesh. “I do have ten heads at points,” the actor has teased. Release date: August 11Cirkus Was Rohit Shetty slacking off during the pandemic? Evidently not. With Sooryavanshi held up for the longest time, the director channeled his creative energies into Cirkus,a comedy entertainer starring Ranveer Singh. After the heavy sermonizing of his last two films, Rohit, one hopes, has loosened up. Release date: July 15Brahmastra Yes, it's happening! Brahmastra is finally releasing in 2022. Ayan Mukerji's long-mooted superhero epic is the biggest bet anyone has made on Ranbir KapoorShot across continents, the film is about a secret society entrusted with divine weapons. The first part, Shiva, drops this year. Two more installments will follow. Release date: September 9Vikram Vedha Pushkar–Gayathri's philosophical noir was a big hit in 2017. Now, with Saif Ali Khan and Hrithik Roshan fronting a Hindi remake, it will break out even wider.The story is about a cop tailing an elusive gangster. Visiting the film's sets, R Madhavan had praised Hrithik's look, saying the actor 'is going to rule the World.' Release date: September 30Bhediya Varun Dhawan looked his most menacing in the 2015 thriller Badlapur. Add claws, fangs and shiny animal eyes and you can imagine the kind of terror he'll strike in Bhediya.The film is the third in Maddock Films' ongoing horror comedy universe. Amar Kaushik directs, with Hollywood's Mr. X studios doing the effects. Release date: November 25Merry Christmas Sriram Raghavan will end the year with Merry Christmas, starring Vijay Sethupathi and Katrina Kaif. Of course, the lesser known about a Raghavan film the better,and it will likely be kept that way. We can expect blood, I suppose, maybe a little murder... Release date: December 23