In a significant reshuffle of Bollywood’s 2026 release calendar, Dhamaal 4 has been pushed from July 3 to July 17, 2026, thereby avoiding a box office clash with Akshay Kumar’s Welcome to the Jungle.
Industry sources indicate that the change follows a direct conversation between Ajay Devgn and Akshay Kumar, with both agreeing that two large ensemble comedies releasing within a week of each other could impact business potential. The decision was reportedly mutual, aimed at ensuring stronger individual theatrical runs.
Welcome to the Jungle, directed by Ahmed Khan, is slated for release on June 26, 2026. The film features an ensemble cast including Akshay Kumar, Suniel Shetty, Jackie Shroff, Raveena Tandon, Disha Patani, Jacqueline Fernandez, Arshad Warsi, Paresh Rawal, Rajpal Yadav, Johnny Lever, Lara Dutta, Shreyas Talpade and Tusshar Kapoor.
Meanwhile, Dhamaal 4 brings back franchise regulars Ajay Devgn, Riteish Deshmukh, Arshad Warsi, Sanjay Mishra and Javed Jaffrey, along with new additions Esha Gupta, Sanjeeda Sheikh, Anjali Anand, Upendra Limaye and Ravi Kishan.
With the revised schedule, both films now enjoy a three-week gap, considered favourable in current theatrical dynamics for maximising opening weekend momentum and sustaining word-of-mouth performance.
Trade analysts believe the move could make summer 2026 one of Bollywood’s strongest comedy windows in recent years, with both films positioned as standalone theatrical attractions rather than direct rivals.
The development has also drawn attention for the reported mutual understanding between the two stars, with industry insiders describing it as a pragmatic approach to release planning.
Presented by Gulshan Kumar and T-Series in association with Devgn Films, Dhamaal 4 is produced by T-Series Films, Maruti International, Panorama Studios, Devgn Films, Bhushan Kumar, Krishan Kumar, Ashok Thakeria, Indra Kumar, Anand Pandit and Kumar Mangat Pathak. Directed by Indra Kumar, the film is scheduled for release on July 17, 2026.
