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Holi 2026: Bollywood Silent for First Time in 15 Years
25 Feb
Summary
- Bollywood marks its first Holi without a major film release in 15 years.
- T20 World Cup and other factors cause a significant content drought.
- Exhibitors reduce shows and face uncertainty until Eid releases.
Holi 2026 marks an unprecedented absence of major Bollywood film releases, a first in 15 years. Historically, the festival has been a lucrative period for movie openings, with numerous successful films released around this time.
Several factors have contributed to this significant content drought. The ongoing T20 World Cup is a primary reason, with filmmakers avoiding a clash with the sporting event. Additionally, the overlap with the holy month of Ramzan and ongoing examinations has further dampened potential audience turnout.
This situation has put exhibitors in a difficult position, struggling to sustain operations until the Eid releases on March 19. Theaters are reducing the number of shows due to the severe content crunch, with some multiplexes considering temporarily shutting down screens.
Iconic venues like Mumbai's Gaiety-Galaxy have already implemented split-show strategies due to a lack of strong content. Exhibitors are pinning their hopes on upcoming Eid releases, "Dhurandhar: The Revenge" and "Toxic," to revive momentum at the box office and mitigate losses from the current dry spell.
