The sequel craze is far from being in fadeout mode. This despite the fact that only five sequels (Raid 2, Jolly LLB 3, Housefull 5, Sitaare Zameen Par and Metro…In Dino) worked and about 10 more flopped or did below-average business, like Kesari 2, De De Pyaar De 2 and Son of Sardaar 2 in 2025. Of these, only Raid 2 and De De Pyaar De 2 were true sequels.
In 2026, we have already had Border 2 (a completely different story from the iconic 1997 hit, Border) and Mardaani 3 (a different story with the same cop as protagonist) in January, Vadh 2 (the common points being the killing of a villain by innocent lead players and the same writer-director!) and The Kerala Story 2 in February, with Dhurandhar: The Revenge coming up in March.
April will see Ginny Wedss Sunny 2 with a different star-cast, May will have Pati Patni Aur Woh Do (different cast again!) and June will see Welcome to the Jungle.
Before the year is out, Dhamaal 4 and Drishyam 3 (a true sequel) will also arrive. In the works are Cocktail 2 and Bhediya 2 from Maddock Films and Awarapan 2 from Mukesh Bhatt, both expected with any luck this year.
Alpha and Shakti Shalini will come in from two established ‘Universes’—Yash Raj Films’ Spy Universe and Maddock Films’ Horror Comedy Universe.
Hera Pheri 3 will also take off (hopefully!) as will Haseena Maan Jaayegi 2 and Don 3. On the Pan-Indian front from the South, we will also have Salaar 2, Pushpa 3, Indian 3 and Kalki 2!
Said trade analyst Taran Adarsh, “The appeal of a successful film’s title, I think, supersedes everything else. The audience will be attracted by a title that is repeated when it is of a movie they have loved. Look at Kesari 2: other than the patriotic story set before Independence, the film had nothing in common with Kesari. But with any other title, it may not have attracted the audience so much.”
Adarsh feels that nothing is wrong in filmmakers, stars and financiers expecting a successful title to repeat the magic. But the bottom-line, he cautions, is always the content, which is why most of the sequels last year simply did not work.
Actor-filmmaker-writer Saurabh Shukla has a fresh take on this after essaying his beloved characters of a hapless judge in the Jolly LLB franchise and the acerbic villain in Raid and Raid 2. “I think the right persons to ask this are those who are in marketing, and who think of movies as properties! We artistes think of every film as a creation. We only look at the story, and the film will work only if the story does. Those into marketing, however, definitely keep the psyche of the masses in mind, which isn’t wrong from their point of view. And, frankly speaking, good filmmakers like Rajkumar Hirani know exactly how a follow-up film must be made, if you see the examples of the two Munna Bhai films!”
Noted director Priyadarshan has to convince his fans that his forthcoming Bhooth Bangla is not a sequel to Bhool Bhulaiyaa. He has expressed doubts as late as a few days ago over the future of Hera Pheri 3 itself. Having directed the disastrous Kamaal Dhamaal Malamaal in 2012 as a sequel to his classic Malamaal Weekly (2006) and the calamitic Hungama 2 (released digitally) in 2021 after Hungama (2003), he has reiterated his reluctance to do any more sequels (he had refused Hera Pheri 2 and Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 earlier!) and it remains a conundrum on how he agreed to be a part of Hera Pheri 3.
And very interestingly, another sequel to Malamaal Weekly, called Malamaal Weekly 2, is also now being planned by someone else!
But Adarsh and Rathie are spot-on about the basics of sequel making: the content matters, even if the title may be a magnet.
The post Why the craze for sequels will never fade appeared first on Bollywood Hungama.
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