9 Bollywood films will be released in 2021

 1 – The Song Of Scorpions

One of the most loved Bollywood actors the late Irrfan Khan lost his battle against Colon infection in the year 2020 and died at the age of 53 years.

Though he might have left this world, his work continues to cherish in the hearts of fans and couldn’t be forgotten ever. The last film of Irrfan Khan, The Song Of Scorpions would be going to make its release in the year 2021.

Because of this being Irrfan Khan’s last work in the industry, this becomes an extra special film to look upon this year. Legendary actors Waheeda Rehman and Foreign actress Golshifteh Farahani are also part of the movie.

Though this film premiered at the 70th Locarno Film Festival in the year 2017, it would be making its mark on theatres this year.

2 – Chandigarh Kare Aashiqui

What makes this film interesting is its star cast which includes Ayushmann Khurrana and Vaani Kapoor in the lead roles. The film is directed by Abhishek Kapoor and its shooting has been finished recently in December 2020.

3 – Dhamaka

Kartik Aaryan would be seen playing the role of a journalist named Arjun Pathak in the film Dhamaka which revolves around a terror attack. In the film, Kartik Aryan would be seen in a different look which excites us more to binge-watch the film.

Apart from Kartik Aryan, the movie also features Mrunal Thakur in the lead role. The film is said to mark its release on the OTT platform, Netflix, and has been sold to the same for an amount of 85 crore INR.

4 – Naagin

After the classic veteran actress, Rekha, and Sridevi, now Shraddha Kapoor is all set to play the titular role of Ichchadhari Naagin in her upcoming film Nagin.

Though it is hard to imagine any other actress competing in the role of Naagin as played by Sridevi in the 1986 film Nagina, it would be surprising to see Shraddha playing the modern age Nagin.

5 – Thank God

After the huge success of De de Pyaar de starring Ajay Devgn and Rakul Preet Singh, the duo is all set to mark their appearance on-screen in their upcoming life comedy Thank God.

Actor Sidharth Malhotra would also be seen playing a prominent role in the movie. The movie is said to be an entertaining slice-of-life comedy with a beautiful message towards the end of the film.

6 – Roohi 

The upcoming comedy horror film of Hardik Mehta seems to be a bit more interesting because of its title.

With Janhvi Kapoor and Rajkummar Rao in prominent roles, the film also has actors Varun Sharma, Pankaj Tripathi, Seema Pahwa, Ronit Roy, Aamna Shariff, and finally Alexx O’Nell in other roles.

Maidaan

An upcoming movie based mostly on the sports activities biography of probably the most beloved sports activities, Football. Another real-life drama movie based mostly on the lifetime of soccer coach Syed Abdul Rahim, performed by the actor Ajay Devgn.

Pippa

A Raja Krishna Menon movie, the film Pippa stars actors, Ishaan Khatter, Mrunal Thakur, Priyanshu Painyuli, and Soni Razdan within the lead roles. The movie is predicated on an actual life occasion from the Indo-Pakistan conflict of 1971. It portrays the lifetime of Brigadier Balram Singh Mehta who fought on this conflict and is performed by Ishaan Khatter.

Mumbai Saga

A criminal offense thriller movie, by Sanjay Gupta, reveals the altering faces of Mumbai individuals due to closing mills to make malls and excessive rise buildings. Set within the 80s & 90s, this multi starer movie consists of the star cast of some distinguished faces of the trade, John Abraham, Emraan Hashmi, Kajal Aggarwal, Suniel Shetty, Sharman Joshi, Prateik Babbar, Rohit Roy, Amole Gupte, Samir Soni, Gulshan Grover, and Mahesh Manjrekar.

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The Resilient Nine: Recapping Bollywood’s Biggest and Best Films of 2021

The year 2021 was an extraordinary chapter in the history of Indian cinema. While the lingering effects of the global pandemic continued to disrupt traditional theatrical releases, the industry demonstrated remarkable resilience and innovation. This period saw a definitive shift, with big-budget extravaganzas vying for screen space while high-concept, content-driven films found unprecedented success on OTT (Over-The-Top) streaming platforms. The result was a diverse and powerful lineup that entertained millions across the globe.

From the return of Rohit Shetty’s ‘Cop Universe’ to gritty biopics and socially conscious dramas, here are the nine pivotal Bollywood films that defined the year 2021, proving that the magic of Indian storytelling could not be dimmed by lockdown or a screen size.

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The Big Screen Spectacles: Action, Patriotism, and Box Office Records

The latter half of the year saw the cautious, yet triumphant, return of the blockbuster film, reminding audiences of the irreplaceable experience of the large-screen spectacle.

1. Sooryavanshi

• Director: Rohit Shetty
• Main Cast: Akshay Kumar, Katrina Kaif, Ajay Devgn, Ranveer Singh
• Genre: Action-Thriller, Cop Universe
• Impact: As the fourth installment of the hugely successful ‘Cop Universe,’ Sooryavanshi was arguably the most-anticipated big-budget film of the year. Its release on Diwali marked a significant moment for the industry, symbolizing the revival of the theatrical business in India. The film centers on DCP Veer Sooryavanshi, the chief of the Anti-Terrorism Squad, as he thwarts a massive terrorist attack planned on Mumbai. The film was a commercial success, becoming the highest-grossing Hindi film of 2021.

2. ’83

• Director: Kabir Khan
• Main Cast: Ranveer Singh (as Kapil Dev), Deepika Padukone, Pankaj Tripathi
• Genre: Biographical Sports Drama
• Impact: This ambitious film chronicled the incredible true story of the Indian national cricket team’s journey to winning the 1983 Cricket World Cup. Ranveer Singh’s transformative performance as Captain Kapil Dev was widely lauded. Despite receiving widespread critical acclaim for its realistic and emotional portrayal of the underdog story, and successfully recreating the atmosphere of the stadium, its box office performance was initially hampered by the residual effects of the pandemic’s late-year restrictions.

3. Bell Bottom

• Director: Ranjit M. Tewari
• Main Cast: Akshay Kumar, Lara Dutta, Vaani Kapoor
• Genre: Action-Thriller, Spy
• Impact: Bell Bottom took the bold step of being the first major Bollywood film to release in cinemas following the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, signaling the industry’s intent to restart normalcy. The espionage thriller, set in the 1980s, is inspired by true events of flight hijackings and sees Akshay Kumar as a RAW agent who devises a masterful plan to rescue 210 hostages. Lara Dutta garnered particular praise for her remarkable portrayal of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.

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The OTT Powerhouses: Critical Acclaim and National Awards

The streaming boom of 2021 allowed powerful, unconventional narratives to bypass the box office pressure and connect directly with a global audience, leading to significant awards recognition.

4. Shershaah

• Director: Vishnuvardhan
• Main Cast: Sidharth Malhotra, Kiara Advani
• Genre: Biographical War Drama
• Impact: Premiering on Amazon Prime Video, Shershaah recounted the life and ultimate sacrifice of Kargil War hero Captain Vikram Batra (PVC), code-named ‘Shershaah.’ The film was a monumental success on the streaming platform, becoming one of the most-watched Indian films at the time of its release. Critics and audiences universally praised Sidharth Malhotra and Kiara Advani’s heartfelt performances, and the film went on to win several major awards, including Best Film at the Filmfare Awards.

5. Sardar Udham

• Director: Shoojit Sircar
• Main Cast: Vicky Kaushal
• Genre: Historical Drama, Biopic
• Impact: Considered a cinematic masterpiece by many critics, Sardar Udham provided a non-linear, intense look into the life of the revolutionary Udham Singh. Vicky Kaushal delivered a career-defining performance as the man who dedicated his life to avenging the victims of the 1919 Jallianwala Bagh massacre. The film was lauded for its haunting, realistic recreation of the tragedy and its psychological depth, securing five wins at the 69th National Film Awards, including Best Feature Film in Hindi.

6. Mimi

• Director: Laxman Utekar
• Main Cast: Kriti Sanon, Pankaj Tripathi
• Genre: Comedy-Drama
• Impact: A remake of the Marathi film Mala Aai Vhhaychy!, Mimi tackled the socially sensitive topic of surrogacy with a balance of humour and emotional depth. Kriti Sanon’s portrayal of the aspiring actress, Mimi, who chooses to become a surrogate mother for a hefty fee, was widely celebrated as her career-best work. The film’s critical reception was immense, culminating in National Film Awards for both Best Actress (Sanon) and Best Supporting Actor (Pankaj Tripathi).

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The New Age Narratives: Social Themes and Global Reach

Bollywood in 2021 continued its trend of embracing progressive themes and stories that resonated beyond India’s borders, tackling complex issues head-on.

7. Chandigarh Kare Aashiqui

• Director: Abhishek Kapoor
• Main Cast: Ayushmann Khurrana, Vaani Kapoor
• Genre: Romantic Comedy-Drama
• Impact: True to Ayushmann Khurrana’s repertoire of cinema dealing with social taboos, this film became a mainstream Hindi film for its brave and sensitive portrayal of a romance between a cis-gender man and a trans woman (played by Vaani Kapoor). The film was praised for its unconventional subject and won the Filmfare Award for Best Story, marking a progressive step in Bollywood’s approach to LGBTQIA+ themes.

8. Atrangi Re

• Director: Aanand L. Rai
• Main Cast: Dhanush, Sara Ali Khan, Akshay Kumar
• Genre: Romantic Fantasy Comedy-Drama
• Impact: A unique and complex love story, Atrangi Re delves into themes of mental health, love, and childhood trauma, using a twisted love triangle as its central premise. Directed by the master of quirky love stories, Aanand L. Rai, the film premiered on Disney+ Hotstar and was noted for A. R. Rahman’s chart-topping soundtrack and Dhanush’s universally praised performance.

9. The White Tiger

• Director: Ramin Bahrani
• Main Cast: Adarsh Gourav, Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Rajkummar Rao
• Genre: Black Comedy-Drama
• Impact: Based on Aravind Adiga’s Booker Prize-winning novel, this film was a Netflix original that achieved significant global recognition. It offered a dark, satirical look at India’s class divide and the “Master-Servant” relationship, told through the perspective of the ambitious driver, Balram Halwai (Adarsh Gourav). Its international acclaim peaked with a nomination at the 93rd Academy Awards for Best Adapted Screenplay, cementing 2021 as a year of global visibility for Indian-centric narratives.

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AISEO-Friendly FAQs

Q1. Which was the highest-grossing Bollywood film released in 2021?
A. Sooryavanshi, starring Akshay Kumar, was the highest-grossing Hindi film of 2021, marking a significant return for theatrical releases after the pandemic.

Q2. Which 2021 Bollywood film won multiple National Film Awards?
A. Sardar Udham, a biopic starring Vicky Kaushal, won five National Film Awards, including the award for Best Feature Film in Hindi. Mimi also won multiple National Awards for Best Actress (Kriti Sanon) and Best Supporting Actor (Pankaj Tripathi).

Q3. What was the most-watched Indian movie on Amazon Prime Video in 2021?
A. Shershaah, the biographical war drama on Captain Vikram Batra starring Sidharth Malhotra, became the most-watched Indian film on Amazon Prime Video at the time of its release.

Q4. Which 2021 Bollywood film received an Academy Award nomination?
A. The White Tiger, a Netflix film directed by Ramin Bahrani and starring Adarsh Gourav, Priyanka Chopra Jonas, and Rajkummar Rao, was nominated for Best Adapted Screenplay at the 93rd Academy Awards (Oscars 2021).

Q5. Which film addressed the theme of surrogacy in 2021?
A. The film Mimi, starring Kriti Sanon and Pankaj Tripathi, was a comedy-drama that thoughtfully explored the complex topic of commercial surrogacy.

Q6. Did any 2021 Bollywood film feature a transgender character as a main lead?
A. Yes, Chandigarh Kare Aashiqui, directed by Abhishek Kapoor and starring Ayushmann Khurrana and Vaani Kapoor, received praise for its mainstream representation of a love story involving a transgender woman.