Top 10 Most Anticipated Indian Films of 2027: The Ultimate Watchlist
2027 Is Going to Be Indian Cinema’s Most Explosive Year Yet
Let’s just say it out loud — 2027 is shaping up to be the most stacked year in Indian cinema history.
We’re talking about SS Rajamouli returning with a mythology-meets-adventure spectacle. Atlee and Allu Arjun joining forces for a cosmic sci-fi fantasy. Prabhas hunting criminals under the direction of Sandeep Reddy Vanga. Rajinikanth in a Pongal release backed by Kamal Haasan. The list doesn’t just go on — it escalates with every entry.
If 2022 was the year of RRR and KGF Chapter 2, and 2024 belonged to Pushpa 2, then 2027 might just be the year when Indian cinema collectively ascends to an entirely new orbit.
These are the top 10 most anticipated Indian films of 2027 — ranked by buzz, scale, star power, and that electric feeling of something special is coming. Buckle up.
1 — Varanasi (SSMB29) | Director: SS Rajamouli | Stars: Mahesh Babu, Priyanka Chopra Jonas
The King Returns With His Biggest Vision Yet
When SS Rajamouli makes a movie, it’s not just a film — it’s a global event. Baahubali 2 redefined Indian cinema. RRR conquered the world stage, including an Oscar win for Naatu Naatu. Now, with Varanasi, Rajamouli is making his most ambitious leap yet.
Scheduled for theatrical release on April 7, 2027 — coinciding with Ugadi — Varanasi follows Rudhra (Mahesh Babu) as the ancient city of Varanasi faces the threat of an asteroid. The narrative spans multiple yugas, from Treta Yuga to Kali Yuga, and travels across continents, from Africa to Antarctica.
Here’s a fact that will make your jaw drop: Varanasi is confirmed to be the first Indian film — and only the fourth feature film globally — to shoot on location at Antarctica’s Ross Ice Shelf. That’s not a marketing line. That’s a statement of intent.
The film is also the first Indian film and first non-English language film to be shot in the 1.43:1 IMAX format. Rajamouli isn’t just making a film for Indian audiences — he’s making one for the world. Even James Cameron reportedly expressed enthusiasm about visiting the sets.
With a budget of approximately ₹1,400 crore ($150 million USD), Varanasi is one of the most expensive Indian films ever produced. Mahesh Babu trained for a year — including six months purely on running style — to embody the character of Rudhra, who plays both a modern protagonist and the mythological Lord Rama across timelines.
Priyanka Chopra Jonas returns to Indian cinema in her most powerful role to date, while Prithviraj Sukumaran plays the cerebral villain Kumbha. Music is by the legendary MM Keeravani, the same genius behind RRR’s global soundtrack.
Why It’s 1: Rajamouli. Mahesh Babu. IMAX. Antarctica. A budget of ₹1,400 crore. That’s why.
2 — Raaka | Director: Atlee | Stars: Allu Arjun, Deepika Padukone
18 Years in the Making. One Movie to Rule Them All.
The ink is barely dry on this announcement. The title was revealed on April 8, 2026, coinciding with Allu Arjun’s birthday, creating huge excitement among fans after the release of a striking first-look poster.
Raaka is not just a film — it’s Atlee’s 18-year dream finally taking shape. As the director himself put it, “Raaka isn’t just a film… it’s a part of me I’ve carried for years. For 18 years, I held on to one idea, never letting it fade.”
Coming off the record-smashing Pushpa 2, which collected approximately $194 million globally, making it the third-highest-grossing Indian film of all time, Allu Arjun steps into the most physically transformative role of his career — a bald, primal, half-man half-divine-beast warrior born to restore cosmic balance.
Deepika Padukone plays a fierce warrior female lead. The supporting cast reportedly includes Rashmika Mandanna, Mrunal Thakur, Janhvi Kapoor, Ramya Krishnan, and Jim Sarbh. Backed by Sun Pictures, this is a pan-India release in seven-plus languages.
The tagline says everything: “Born of fire, shaped by the cosmos, and forged in sacrifice.”
Why It’s 2: The freshest announcement on this list and already one of the most viral. Atlee’s track record plus Allu Arjun’s global momentum equals box office thunder.
3 — Spirit | Director: Sandeep Reddy Vanga | Stars: Prabhas, Triptii Dimri, Vivek Oberoi
The Animal Director Is Back — This Time With India’s Biggest Star
Sandeep Reddy Vanga makes films that divide critics and dominate box offices. Arjun Reddy, Kabir Singh, Animal — each one a cultural flashpoint, each one a commercial juggernaut. Now he’s teaming up with Prabhas for Spirit, and the hype is stratospheric.
Spirit is a cop action drama starring Prabhas, slated for release on March 5, 2027. The film is described as an attempt to reinvent the cop action genre, with Prabhas reportedly asked to maintain a leaner physique and perform his own stunts throughout. Triptii Dimri and Vivek Oberoi complete the headline trio.
What makes Spirit particularly fascinating is the contrast it represents for Prabhas. After Baahubali, Saaho, Radhe Shyam, and Salaar, this is the star leaning into something more gritty and grounded — a character-driven cop drama helmed by one of Indian cinema’s most uncompromising auteurs.
Vanga’s ability to create testosterone-charged, morally complex protagonists is unmatched. Give him an actor of Prabhas’s physical presence and Star power, and Spirit could be the film that reminds the world exactly what this combination can do.
Why It’s 3: Prabhas + Vanga = unprecedented commercial and cinematic potential. March 5, 2027 is a date to circle in red.
4 — Thalaivar 173 | Director: Cibi Chakaravarthi | Stars: Rajinikanth
The Superstar Returns for Pongal — Produced by Kamal Haasan
There is only one Thalaivar. And in January 2027, Rajinikanth returns to cinemas for a Pongal release in one of the most emotionally resonant collaborations in Tamil film history.
Thalaivar 173 is directed by Cibi Chakaravarthi and is scheduled to release in January 2027, marking the Tamil holiday of Pongal. The film features music by Anirudh Ravichander and is produced by Kamal Haasan’s Raaj Kamal Films International — marking Kamal’s debut production with Rajinikanth in the lead.
Think about that for a moment. Two of the greatest icons in the history of Tamil cinema — Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan — united on screen for decades, and now Kamal produces a Rajinikanth film. The production company noted this as a “landmark collaboration that unites two towering forces of Indian cinema” while “celebrating five decades of friendship and brotherhood between Superstar Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan.”
The announcement poster hints at tailoring elements — scissors, needles, threads — alongside passports, guns, and bullets. The tagline reads: “Every family has a hero.” An action saga with emotional family underpinnings, a Pongal release, Anirudh Ravichander on music, and Rajinikanth at 75 years old still commanding every frame he inhabits. That’s the recipe for pure magic.
Why It’s 4: The friendship of a lifetime becomes a cinematic collaboration. Rajinikanth + Pongal is an event unto itself.
5 — Salaar: Part 2 — Shouryaanga Parvam | Director: Prashanth Neel | Stars: Prabhas, Prithviraj Sukumaran, Shruti Haasan
The War for Khansaar Isn’t Over
Salaar: Part 1 — Ceasefire ended with a cliffhanger that left millions of fans desperate for answers. The dystopian world of Khansaar, the raw power of Deva, the complex web of loyalty and betrayal — it all sets the stage for what could be the most violent, visceral sequel in Indian cinema.
Prashanth Neel — the man behind the KGF franchise — returns to direct Salaar: Part 2 — Shouryaanga Parvam, continuing the epic mythology of Khansaar. Prabhas reprises his role as the brooding, unstoppable Deva, with Prithviraj Sukumaran as Varadha and Shruti Haasan completing the core trio.
What makes this sequel special is Neel’s extraordinary world-building. Khansaar isn’t just a setting — it’s a living, breathing universe with its own laws, politics, and darkness. Part 2 promises to go deeper, darker, and far more explosive than anything Part 1 showed us. The Shouryaanga storyline that was teased in the post-credits and third-act reveals of Part 1 is about to explode open.
Why It’s 5: This is unfinished business — and Prashanth Neel never leaves things unfinished.
6 — Ramayana: Part Two | Director: Nitesh Tiwari | Stars: Ranbir Kapoor, Yash, Sai Pallavi
The Epic Continues — Ravana Rises
Ramayana: Part One reintroduced the greatest story ever told to a new generation of Indian cinemagoers — with Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Rama and Sai Pallavi as Sita. Now, Part Two promises to deliver the story’s most dramatic act: Lanka, the battle, and Ravana.
Yash — who rocketed to pan-India superstardom through KGF: Chapter 2 — plays Ravana, one of mythology’s most complex antagonists. This is not a villain who twirls his mustache. Ravana in the Ramayana is a scholar, a warrior, a king, a man consumed by obsession. In Yash’s hands, this character has the potential to be one of the most electrifying portrayals in Indian film history.
Nitesh Tiwari, who directed the exceptional Dangal, brings his characteristic emotional depth and large-scale vision to the material. With Part One laying the foundation, Part Two gets to deliver the catharsis — the war, the loss, the triumph of dharma.
Why It’s 6: The culmination of the most beloved epic in Indian culture, featuring a dream cast assembled by one of Bollywood’s finest directors.
7 — Animal Park | Director: Sandeep Reddy Vanga | Stars: Ranbir Kapoor, Anil Kapoor, Rashmika Mandanna, Triptii Dimri
The Animals Are Back — And This Time, It’s War
Animal (2023) was a phenomenon. Grossing over ₹900 crore worldwide, it made Ranbir Kapoor the undisputed king of Bollywood’s new era. The post-credits scene confirmed what fans suspected: Vijay Singh’s story wasn’t over.
Animal Park takes the franchise into darker, more explosive territory. Sandeep Reddy Vanga has described the sequel as “a war between two brothers who look alike.” Ranbir Kapoor plays a dual role — both Vijay and his look-alike brother Aziz — making the dynamics more volatile and personal than anything in the first film.
Vanga confirmed he will begin work on Animal Park as soon as he wraps up Spirit, targeting a mid-2027 shoot start. That likely pushes the release toward late 2027 or early 2028 — but the anticipation alone earns it a spot on this list.
A darker tone than Animal. A dual-role Ranbir Kapoor. Vanga at his most unhinged. This is either going to be the best or most controversial Indian film of the decade — and possibly both.
Why It’s 7: Sequels rarely exceed the originals. This one has a real shot at it.
8 — Sukumar’s Next | Director: Sukumar | Stars: Ram Charan, Kriti Sanon, Rashmika Mandanna
The Pushpa Director Pivots — And Takes Ram Charan With Him
After Pushpa: The Rise and Pushpa 2: The Rule redefined Indian mass cinema, director Sukumar now turns his gaze to a completely different canvas. His next film stars Ram Charan — himself fresh from the global success of RRR — and is described as a patriotic action thriller.
The film follows investigators driven by patriotism and fatherly love confronting terrorism, with tragedy striking close to home. Kriti Sanon and Rashmika Mandanna co-star — making this Rashmika’s reunion with Sukumar after the Pushpa universe.
Sukumar is perhaps the most detail-obsessed director in Indian cinema. Every shot, every dialogue, every character beat in his films is deliberate and layered. His collaboration with Ram Charan — two artists at the peak of their powers — carries enormous creative promise.
Why It’s 8: Sukumar + Ram Charan is a combination that demands attention. Their individual pedigrees are enough to make this appointment viewing.
9 — Hera Pheri 3 | Director: Priyadarshan | Stars: Akshay Kumar, Suniel Shetty, Sanjay Dutt
The Greatest Comedy Franchise in Bollywood History Returns
Not every film on this list needs massive VFX or mythological gravitas. Sometimes, you just need Raju, Shyam, and Baburao — and the entire country erupts with joy.
Hera Pheri 3 is exactly that. The sequel to the two most beloved comedies in Bollywood history — films that have generated memes, catchphrases, and pop culture moments across multiple generations — is finally, actually happening. Akshay Kumar, Suniel Shetty, and Sanjay Dutt reunite under director Priyadarshan, who helmed the original 2000 classic.
The plot involves hidden treasure, mistaken identities, and the kind of catastrophically bad luck that only befalls these three particular men. It sounds gloriously absurd. It sounds like exactly what it should be.
In a year full of cosmic warriors, divine epics, and dark revenge sagas, sometimes the most anticipated thing in the room is the one that just makes you laugh until you cry.
Why It’s 9: Because “Ye baas ek phone ki baat hai” never gets old. An entire generation has waited decades for this.
10 — Rolex (LCU) | Director: Lokesh Kanagaraj | Stars: Suriya
The Lokesh Cinematic Universe Expands — Into Suriya Territory
The Lokesh Cinematic Universe has been one of Tamil cinema’s most thrilling ongoing projects. Kaithi, Vikram, Leo — each film a standalone hit, each one deepening the shared universe that Lokesh Kanagaraj has been quietly constructing for years.
Now the universe expands to include Suriya in a standalone film centred on the Rolex character — a compelling, morally ambiguous figure first introduced in Vikram. Suriya, one of Tamil cinema’s most beloved stars, brings his extraordinary emotional depth and physical intensity to what promises to be one of the most character-rich entries in the LCU to date.
Lokesh Kanagaraj has consistently elevated every actor he works with. He found new dimensions in Vijay and Kamal Haasan — expect him to do the same with Suriya. The film is expected to feature the interconnected storytelling and visceral action that the LCU is known for, while giving Suriya space to create a character that stands entirely on its own.
Why It’s 10: The LCU is Tamil cinema’s most exciting ongoing universe, and Suriya stepping into it feels like a genuine event.
Honourable Mentions: Films Just Outside the Top 10
The competition for these spots was fierce. Several other major films deserve recognition as they could easily crack the top rankings depending on how production unfolds:
- Thalaivar 172 / Jana Nayagan — Thalapathy Vijay’s political drama that has already generated enormous controversy and anticipation
- Ramayana Part One (if 2026 spillover) — Still generating massive interest
- KGF Chapter 3 — Yash’s Rocky Bhai return is being discussed, though no official announcement
- NTRNeel (Jr NTR + Prashanth Neel) — An electrifying combination that is reportedly in development
What Makes 2027 Special: The Bigger Picture
Look at that list for a moment. Really look at it.
You have Rajamouli at his most ambitious. Atlee executing his life’s dream. Vanga operating in two completely different registers — Spirit and Animal Park. The Ramayana epic reaching its climax. Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan united in a single project. The Hera Pheri boys back together.
This isn’t a good year for Indian cinema. This is a historic year.
Indian cinema — Telugu, Tamil, Hindi, Malayalam — has been building toward something like this for years. The pan-India revolution triggered by Baahubali and then accelerated by KGF 2 and RRR and Pushpa 2 has created an ecosystem where the biggest films can now compete globally, not just domestically.
2027 is where that ecosystem matures. The films on this list aren’t just competing with each other — they’re competing with Hollywood for global eyeballs, global screens, and global box office dominance.
Indian cinema is ready. And 2027 is its stage.
Final Verdict: Which Film Are You Most Excited For?
Every entry on this list deserves a spot. But if we had to pick three that feel genuinely unmissable:
Varanasi — because Rajamouli’s track record demands it be seen on the biggest possible screen.
Raaka — because Atlee’s 18-year passion project plus Allu Arjun’s global momentum is an irresistible force.
Spirit — because Vanga + Prabhas is the kind of combination that rewrites box office records.
The rest? Watch them all. Save the dates. Book the tickets early.
2027 belongs to India.
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FAQs: Top 10 Most Anticipated Indian Films of 2027
1. Which is the most anticipated Indian film of 2027?
Varanasi, directed by SS Rajamouli and starring Mahesh Babu and Priyanka Chopra Jonas, currently holds the top spot as the most anticipated Indian film of 2027. With a budget of approximately ₹1,400 crore, IMAX filming, and a release date of April 7, 2027, it represents the grandest scale of any Indian film in production today. Raaka, the Allu Arjun and Atlee collaboration, is a very close second based on its explosive April 2026 announcement.
2. When is Raaka releasing?
As of April 2026, no official release date has been confirmed for Raaka. The film, directed by Atlee and starring Allu Arjun and Deepika Padukone, is expected to release in 2027 — likely in the second half of the year — as a major pan-India theatrical event across seven or more languages.
3. What is Prabhas’s next movie in 2027?
Prabhas has two major 2027 releases on the horizon. Spirit, directed by Sandeep Reddy Vanga, is slated for March 5, 2027 and is a cop action drama. He is also expected to appear in Salaar: Part 2 — Shouryaanga Parvam, the sequel to the 2023 blockbuster directed by Prashanth Neel.
4. Is Hera Pheri 3 releasing in 2027?
Yes, Hera Pheri 3, directed by Priyadarshan and starring Akshay Kumar, Suniel Shetty, and Sanjay Dutt, is among the most anticipated comedies releasing in 2027. It is the third instalment of the beloved franchise and a long-awaited reunion for the iconic trio.
5. Which Indian films of 2027 are releasing in multiple languages?
Several films on this list are pan-India multilingual releases. Varanasi will release in Telugu, Hindi, Tamil, Malayalam, Kannada, and English. Raaka is set for Telugu, Hindi, Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam, Arabic, Bengali, and more. Spirit and Salaar 2 are also expected to release across major Indian languages with dubbed versions.
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