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Here’s a lookback at a year so unique, as said earlier (2025 Cinema Recap Part 1, South Asian Herald) that the word gets a new connotation in the context of Hindi cinema. By the way, the parameters of Hindi cinema have changed now—to include the phenomenon called pan-Indian films over the last few years. The Bahubali franchise and Saaho really began this trend.
Pan-Indian Cinema ‘Pan’ned!
I have already mentioned the only two successes among them in the last roundup.: the Kannada Kantara: Chapter 1—The Legend and the Telugu, Mahavatar Narsimha. Here are the rest: Coolie, Thug Life, Madharaasi and Kaantha (Tamil), Vrusshabha (Malayalam) and They Call Him OG, Kuberaa, Kannappa and Jatadhara (Telugu).
Somehow, non-South cinema was never released in such a big way, though Punjabi, Gujarati and Marathi cinema had some worthy cinema. Laalo–Krishna Sada Sahaayate in Gujarati has done extraordinary business of Rs. 120 crore plus (it is still running) on a production budget of Rs. 50 lakh!
Akshaye Khanna and The Wig
Heading the controversy list of this year (thankfully, there were not many!) was Akshaye Khanna’s controversial exit from Drishyam 3. The reasons mentioned included moneys (denied!), creative differences (unconfirmed!) and success (Dhurandhar, Chhaava as villain) going to his head (but he quit Drishyam 3 one day before the release of Dhurandhar!). But his head was the culprit in a different sense: he wanted a wig! Said producer Kumar Mangat Pathak, “Our story begins hours after Drishyam 2 ends, in which he was bald. Can a man grow hair in 4 hours???” Hair-raising experience, what?
Govinda’s Avatar rises on AI
Just days after Avatar: Fire and Ash released worldwide, social media was flooded with viral clips and memes claiming that Govinda had a cameo in the film. The videos show him painted blue as a Na’vi on Pandora, delivering his famous dialogues in his trademark style, alongside the cast and wearing a colorful jacket. All the “convincing”-looking viral clips circulating are AI-generated and the joke gained extra traction because of an old interview wherein Govinda had claimed that he was once offered a role in an earlier Avatar.
Oscar triple triumph for India
India’s Oscar selection, Homebound, made it to the 15 shortlisted movies in the Foreign Category (this writer was a part of the 14-member Jury). Mahavatar Narsimha was the first Indian animation film to also be shortlisted for Best Animation film at the Academy awards.
What’s more, India’s and Papua New Guinea’s (PNG) first-ever co-production Papa Buka, has been officially selected as PNG’s Best International Feature Film category entry to the 98th Academy Awards of 2026. Produced by PNG Government and two-time National award-winning producer Akshay Kumar Parija (who was also in the Oscar selectors jury), the film is directed by three-time National award winner, Dr. Bijukumar Damodaran.
The Saif Ali Khan incident
At the start of the year, Saif was attacked by an intruder with a knife at his residence. The intruder attempted a robbery at the actor’s house and the two had a scuffle in which the actor was seriously injured.
The Sardaar Ji 3 mess with Diljit Dosanjh
The Diljit Dosanjh Sardaar Ji 3, incidentally the highest-grossing Punjabi film overseas this year, drew flak over the casting of Pakistani actress Hania Aamir following the Pahalgam attacks and Operation Sindoor. Diljit had co-produced the film and decided not to release it in India. There was pressure even to boycott the actor in Hindi cinema. Luckily, sense prevailed and his next release, Border 2, will hopefully reassert his patriotic credentials.
The exit that wasn’t!
There was passing bad blood caused by Paresh Rawal’s “exit” from Hera Pheri 3 between the actor and co-star (and now co-producer) Akshay Kumar. After much print space and online time was consumed with their individual comments at each other, all was well and Paresh was back as Baburao. Nobody outside the industry knows the real reason why he exited to date.
The Nasty Rumor
That Dharmendra was no more was a rumor circulated a few weeks before the legendary actor passed away. A combination of obnoxious media, paparazzi and even ‘reputed’ publications spread this canard, leading to angry reactions from Hema Malini and the Deol family. When it was revealed that it might be a rumor, tributes were still prepared and asked for, and this writer (as the author of his biography) was even invited to speak about a man who, even if critical, was still alive!
Last release of 2025 postponed as first release of 2026
Dharmendra’s last release, Ikkis, was postponed from December 25 (the last Friday of 2025) to January 1 due to competition from big movies like Dhurandhar, Avatar: Fire and Ash and co-release Tu Meri Main Tera Main Tera Tu Meri.
Adios!
The legend passed away on November 24. Others whom we lost included Sulakshana Pandit (actress and singer) on November 7, Satish Shah on October 25, Asrani on October 20, Assamese singer (and also in Hindi) Zubeen Garg on September 19, Pankaj Dheer on October 15 and another icon, Manoj Kumar on April 4.
