Sooryavanshi, 83, Shamshera, Heropanti 2: Bollywood films book their date with the box office

It was a blockbuster weekend in Bollywood with the film industry's biggest stars rushing to book their date with the audience. While Akshay Kumar took the lead to announce a Diwali 2021 release, Ranveer Singh wasted no time picking Christmas as his release date.

Following the government's decision to open up theatres on October 22, actors from Shahid Kapoor to Ajay Devgn, Ranbir Kapoor, Tiger Shroff and many others also got in line to announce the new release dates of their pending films. Get ready to mark your calendars, because come November, it's going to be all about entertainment, entertainment and entertainment.

Akshay Kumar took a head start and picked Diwali 2021 as the release date for his cop drama 'Sooryavanshi'.

Director Rohit Shetty took to social media to share the new release date of the film hours after Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray announced the reopening of cinema halls in the state from October 22.

"Thanks to our Honourable Chief Minister, Shri Uddhav Thackeray, theatres in Maharashtra to reopen from 22nd October. And FINALLY!!! we can say, This DIWALI…AA RAHI HAI POLICE…," Shetty wrote.

Filmmaker Kabir Khan's much-awaited cricket drama '83', starring Ranveer Singh, is set to arrive in theatres this Christmas.

Ranveer who plays Kapil Dev in the film, took to Instagram to share the news and a new poster of the movie. Sharing a still from the film, the actor wrote, "It's time………. 83 IN CINEMAS THIS CHRISTMAS. Releasing in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Malayalam. #ThisIs83."

Shahid Kapoor also got in line and announced that his highly anticipated sports film ‘Jersey’ will release on the New Year weekend, December 31st.

The actor previously stated that he will stick to a Diwali release, but decided to bow out of a box office battle with Akshay Kumar's 'Sooryavanshi', Salman Khan's 'Antim' and Marvel's superhero film 'Eternals'.

Read Also: Shahid Kapoor’s Jersey to hit the big screens on December 31

It would have been Akshay Kumar vs Akshay Kumar at the box office this Diwali, but lucky for fans, the makers of the historical flick shifted their release to January 21, 2022.

This announcement comes just a day after director Rohit Shetty announced that his film 'Sooryavanshi' that also stars Akshay Kumar in the lead, will release over the extended festive weekend.

The film, which also stars Sanjay Dutt, Sonu Soodm marks the Bollywood debut of beauty queen Manushi Chhillar.

Read Also: Akshay Kumar's 'Prithviraj' to release on 21 January 2022; averts Diwali clash with 'Sooryavanshi' and 'Antim'

Aamir Khan, who is known to usually pick December release dates for his films, announced on Sunday that his next film 'Laal Singh Chaddha', will arrive in theatres on February 14, Valentine's Day 2022.

He also mentioned that it was the delays in the production, owing to the pandemic that forced them to postpone the release.

"Due to the delays faced as a result of the pandemic, we will be unable to release our film, this Christmas. We will now be releasing Laal Singh Chaddha on Valentine's Day 2022," read the statement.

Read Also: Aamir Khan's 'Laal Singh Chaddha' ditches Christmas clash with Ranveer Singh's '83; announces release on Valentine's day 2022

Akshay Kumar, who will start of 2022 with his historical film 'Prithviraj', will be back in theatres on 4 March 2022 with the release of 'Bachchan Pandey'.

He will be seen sharing screen playing the role of a gangster aspiring to be an actor, alongside Kriti Sanon who essays the role of a director.

The makers of 'Shamshera' also announced the new release date of the film starring Ranbir Kapoor in the lead. Originally set for a July 2020 release, the film that is about a dacoit tribe who took charge to fight for their rights and independence against the British, will now release on 18 March 2022.

Ranbir will reportedly take on double role alongside Sanjay Dutt and Vaani Kapoor.

Those waiting to see Kartik Aaryan step into Akshay Kumar's shoes and breathe life to the 'Bhool Bhulaiyaa' franchise, will have to wait until 25 March 2022 to watch the star in action. The film will see him team up with Kiara Advani and Tabu for the first time.

The film was originally slated for a November 2021 release, but production was brought to a halt after the lead star tested positive for COVID-19 while filming.

Ajay Devgn, who will be taking over the director's seat for 'Mayday', announced on Sunday that his aviation film will release on April 29, 2022. Sharing his excitement about the lauch, he announced in a twitter post, "As promised earlier, the aviation-thriller drama, produced and directed by me, starring Amitabh Bachchan, Rakul Preet Singh and me in the lead, will release on 29th April, 2022."

The star also expressed his excitement about the government's decision to open up theatres and said, "Ah, at last the news of cinema theatres opening in October, in Maharashtra, is long-awaited and terrific."

Tiger Shroff on Sunday announced a new release date for his action drama 'Heropanti 2. The film that was originally set to release theatrically on December 3, will now hit screens on 6 May 2022.

"It's official! 'Heropanti 2' releases in cinemas 6 May 2022, read a post on the actor's official social meida handles.

With this announcement, 'Heropanti 2' is now the second Bollywood film to set up a clash with a big-ticket Hollywood release. The Marvel film 'Thor: Love and Thunder' that will star Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman and Tessa Thompson is scheduled to release on the same day.