- Last updated: April 20, 2026 | 08:38
Salman Khan, who turned 60 in December last year, isn’t slowing down. In fact, he is all set for a renewed burst of activity at the box office. However, in the light of the rough patch that he has hit of late, many Bollywood watchers are a touch sceptical about the commercial prospects of his upcoming films. The question being asked is: does the Bollywood actor, who starred in such blockbusters as “Dabangg” and “Ek Tha Tiger” (and their money-spinning spin-offs), still have enough wind left in his sails? The Mumbai movie industry is in the throes of sweeping change and a new generation of male stars are jockeying for space at the top of the A-list heap.
Salman Khan no longer has a free run of the field. But the projects that he has lined up all the way until 2028 suggest that neither he nor his producers and directors have any doubt at all about the star’s ability to still churn out hits. Even as “Maatrubhumi: May War Rest in Peace” (originally titled The Battle of Galwan), which was scheduled for release in mid-April, has been pushed back by a few weeks, he has plunged headlong into a new project (more on that later). The sensitive nature of “Maatrubhumi” – it is a fictional recreation of a 2020 military skirmish between India and China in the Ladakh region — has placed it under the scanner of the censor board.
The change in title and release date has created a cloud of uncertainty. While the star himself is known to be keen to ensure that the film opens on August 14, a day ahead of India’s Independence Day, there was a suggestion that “Maatrubhumi” might see a direct-to-OTT release. But the latter possibility has been ruled out. The fate of the self-produced superstar vehicle directed by Apoorva Lakhia will determine what the immediate future holds for Salman Khan. He has a bunch of films in the pipeline, including one that has just gone on the floors.
With “Maatrubhumi” on hold for the moment, Salman will be seen in the action-packed historical drama “Raja Shivaji,” directed by and starring Riteish Deshmukh. He puts in a cameo appearance as Maratha warrior Jiva Mahala, who was Shivaji’s bodyguard. The yet-to-be-titled new film that Salman has just begun working on is produced by Dil Raju, one of the Telugu movie industry’s most prominent names. To be directed by Vamshi Paidipally, the venture promises to blend Salman’s star power with the dynamics of a Telugu action extravaganza with an eye on erasing the disappointment of the actor’s last release, “Sikandar.”
The A.R. Murugadoss-directed “Sikandar” was a washout at the box office, which is all the more reason for Salman Khan to widen his association with the movie industries in Chennai and Hyderabad and make amends for the setback. Already in the works is a project with Tamil director Atlee, whose Hindi-language debut, “Jawan,” starring Shah Rukh Khan, was a humongous hit a couple of years ago. The new film is still on the drawing board and reports are that Salman wants to make sure that the script leaves nothing to chance.
The circumspection is understandable. Salman seems focused on foraying into familiar territory rather than wager on the unknown. The big films of his that are likely to see light of day in 2027 and 2028 (if all goes well) are follow-ups to past hits. He isn’t going beyond proven commodities and with good reason.
The next entry in the YRF Spy Universe, an actioner that will unite “Pathaan” and “Tiger,” is in development. The extension of the Tiger franchise has already delivered a hattrick of successes (“Ek Tha Tiger,” “Tiger Zinda Hai” and “Tiger 4”). Sajid Nadiadwala is developing a sequel to “Kick,” a 2014 film with which the leading Bollywood producer made his directorial debut. He is reportedly close to giving finishing touches to “Kick 2.” And, to be sure, talk about another “Dabangg” outing is in the air.
There will be much riding on the Vamshi Paidipally venture not only for Salman Khan but also for producer Dil Raju. While the star has to live down the reverses of “Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan” (2023) and “Sikandar” (2025), Dil Raju has to put the relative failure of “Game Changer” (2025), a much-hyped Telugu film spearheaded by Ram Charan, behind him and move on.
“Game Changer” made a strong start at the box office but did not end up eclipsing “Pushpa,” something that it was expected to do. Salman’s decision to join forces with Dil Raju and Vamshi Paidipally is a strategic move aimed at giving his career the sort of impetus that it has been struggling to find in recent years. While Dil Raju is a producer who understands the game as well as anyone else in the business, director Paidipally has a strong track record. His credits include the Telugu blockbuster Maharshi, starring Mahesh Babu and Pooja Hegde, and the Tamil film Varisu, featuring Vijay and Rashmika Mandanna.
Salman Khan is desperately seeking a megahit of the “Jawan” kind but the the fact that he is now unable to break free from Chulbul Pandey or Avinash “Tiger” Singh Rathore is a pointer to the slippery nature of his stardom at the current juncture. When you put too many eggs in only a handful of baskets, the danger of falling into a trap is very real. And that is exactly what appears to have happened to the “Dabangg star.” Be that as it may, Salman is still very much in the game.