Bollywood Sequels Still Stuck In Development: ‘Munna Bhai 3’, ‘Dostana 2’ & More

Written By: Entertainment Desk

Sep 17, 2026 16:26 IST ⓘ

Bollywood sequels that remain stuck in development limbo.

Bollywood loves a sequel announcement. A familiar title appears on screen, an actor shares a cryptic poster, and fans immediately begin planning their first-day-first-show outing. Getting that sequel from an announcement to a cinema hall, however, is often the real cliffhanger. Some follow-ups have spent longer in development than many film franchises have existed. Scripts have been written and discarded, actors have walked out, directors have changed and release dates have quietly vanished from calendars. A few projects remain alive, while others appear to be only one official announcement away from being officially unannounced.

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Here are 15 Bollywood sequels that were announced or publicly confirmed years ago but, as of September 2026, still have not reached theatres.

1. Munna Bhai Chale Amerika/Munna Bhai 3

Rajkumar Hirani’s ‘Lage Raho Munna Bhai’ was released on September 1, 2006, bringing back Sanjay Dutt’s Munna and Arshad Warsi’s Circuit alongside Vidya Balan, Boman Irani and Dilip Prabhavalkar. The comedy-drama turned “Gandhigiri” into a national catchphrase and grossed approximately Rs 124.98 crore worldwide.

The third film once seemed much closer than it does today. A teaser for ‘Munna Bhai Chale Amerika’, featuring Munna and Circuit preparing to conquer the English language before travelling to the US, was unveiled in 2007. Sanjay Dutt’s legal troubles interrupted the momentum, while the proposed story subsequently underwent major changes. The title gradually disappeared and the project became the more generic ‘Munna Bhai 3’. Nearly two decades later, Rajkumar Hirani insists it has not been shelved. The problem is not a lack of attempts: Arshad Warsi revealed that three scripts had been written, but none matched the standard set by the first two films.

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2. Dostana 2

Tarun Mansukhani’s ‘Dostana’, starring Abhishek Bachchan, John Abraham and Priyanka Chopra, with Bobby Deol in an important role, arrived on November 14, 2008. Its Miami setting, hit soundtrack and comedy of misunderstandings helped it collect approximately Rs 81.68 crore worldwide.

Dharma Productions formally announced ‘Dostana 2’ in June 2019 with Kartik Aaryan, Janhvi Kapoor and newcomer Lakshya, under director Collin D’Cunha. Part of the film was shot before the pandemic halted production. In April 2021, Dharma announced that the movie would be recast, confirming Kartik’s departure without publicly detailing the circumstances. The abandoned footage never became a film. A new, reportedly streaming-bound version was later developed with Vikrant Massey, Lakshya and Sreeleela, but director Advait Chandan exited in June 2026 after months of work because of creative differences. Dharma is reportedly still interested in reviving the title. But no new director or filming schedule has been announced yet.

3. Hera Pheri 3

Neeraj Vora’s ‘Phir Hera Pheri’ released on June 9, 2006, with Akshay Kumar, Suniel Shetty and Paresh Rawal returning as Raju, Shyam and Baburao. Bipasha Basu, Rimi Sen and Johnny Lever joined the chaos, which ended with Raju hanging from a bridge and the guns still in his possession. The sequel earned approximately Rs 67.71 crore worldwide.

That cliffhanger has now been waiting two decades for a resolution. A version of ‘Hera Pheri 3’ went on floors in 2015 with Abhishek Bachchan, John Abraham, Suniel Shetty and Paresh Rawal, while Akshay was absent. It stalled after cast exits and Neeraj Vora’s illness. The original trio then shot an announcement promo in 2023, and Priyadarshan was subsequently brought in to direct. Paresh’s temporary departure, legal exchanges and eventual return created further confusion. By mid-2026, Priyadarshan had left and Akshay’s production company had issued a public notice asserting exclusive rights over the film. The three actors remain associated with the proposed sequel, but it currently has no confirmed director or production schedule.

4. Krrish 4

Rakesh Roshan’s ‘Krrish 3’ opened on November 1, 2013. Hrithik Roshan returned as Krishna Mehra and the masked superhero Krrish, with Priyanka Chopra, Kangana Ranaut and Vivek Oberoi completing the principal cast. The superhero spectacle grossed approximately Rs 393.37 crore worldwide.

Rakesh officially announced ‘Krrish 4’ in 2016, initially targeting a 2018 release before the date moved to 2020 and then disappeared altogether. Developing a story, financing the visual effects and coordinating Hrithik’s other commitments all contributed to the long wait. The project received fresh momentum when Hrithik was announced as its director, marking his filmmaking debut, with Rakesh Roshan and Aditya Chopra backing it. In June 2026, Rakesh dismissed reports of budget-related trouble and insisted that the film remained on track. However, without a confirmed shoot or release date, Krrish’s next flight continues to be stuck at the departure gate.

5. No Entry Mein Entry

Released on August 26, 2005, Anees Bazmee’s ‘No Entry’ starred Anil Kapoor, Salman Khan and Fardeen Khan as three men whose lies produce one gigantic marital disaster. Bipasha Basu, Lara Dutta, Esha Deol and Celina Jaitly led the film’s female ensemble. It grossed approximately Rs 72.03 crore worldwide and became one of 2005’s biggest Hindi hits.

Its sequel, ‘No Entry Mein Entry’, was being publicly discussed by 2012, with plans to reunite the three leading men in multiple roles. Producer Boney Kapoor later said the team waited eight to ten years for the original stars before choosing to reboot the project. Anees remained the director, while Varun Dhawan, Arjun Kapoor and Diljit Dosanjh were announced as the new male leads. Diljit subsequently left because his schedule and tour commitments could not be aligned, forcing the makers to look for a replacement. The sequel remains in development, but its frequently changing cast and repeatedly postponed production have made entering ‘No Entry 2’ much harder than its title suggests.

6. Mr India 2

Shekhar Kapur’s ‘Mr India’ released on May 29, 1987, and brought together Anil Kapoor, Sridevi, Amrish Puri and Satish Kaushik. Mogambo, an invisible hero and Sridevi’s unforgettable Charlie Chaplin routine helped turn it into one of Hindi cinema’s most enduring entertainers. Sacnilk listed its India nett collection at Rs 5.40 crore and worldwide run at Rs 10.80 crore.

Boney Kapoor spoke about making ‘Mr India 2’ as early as 2012, with Anil and Sridevi expected to return and Salman Khan reportedly being considered for an antagonistic role. Sridevi’s death in 2018 fundamentally changed those plans. A separate attempt emerged in 2020 when Zee Studios and Ali Abbas Zafar announced an “epic trilogy” based on ‘Mr India’. That announcement immediately attracted objections from Shekhar Kapur and Sonam Kapoor, who said key members of the original team had not been consulted. The trilogy never moved into production, and no cast or filming date has materialised.

7. Aankhen 2

Vipul Amrutlal Shah’s ‘Aankhen’ was released on April 5, 2002. Amitabh Bachchan played a vengeful bank manager who trained three visually impaired men – played by Akshay Kumar, Arjun Rampal and Paresh Rawal – to rob the very bank that had dismissed him. Sushmita Sen completed the principal cast. The thriller grossed approximately Rs 29.43 crore worldwide.

A sequel was discussed for years before receiving a lavish launch in August 2016. Amitabh was set to return, with Arjun Rampal and Arshad Warsi among the new ensemble and Anees Bazmee attached as director. A dispute over the franchise rights halted that incarnation. The project resurfaced with Abhinay Deo reportedly directing Amitabh, Sidharth Malhotra and Akshaye Khanna, but that version collapsed too. Abhinay Deo later confirmed it had been shelved after Big B opted out.

8. Go Goa Gone 2

Raj Nidimoru and Krishna DK’s ‘Go Goa Gone’ hit theatres on May 10, 2013. Saif Ali Khan, Kunal Kemmu, Vir Das, Anand Tiwari and Puja Gupta starred in the comedy about friends whose Goa holiday is interrupted by a zombie outbreak – and a Russian zombie hunter with a distinctly Delhi accent. The film earned approximately Rs 37.82 crore worldwide.

After years of discussion, Eros International and Maddock Films officially announced ‘Go Goa Gone 2’ in January 2020, promising that it would continue directly from the original and release in March 2021. Filming was supposed to begin in September 2020, but the pandemic made that timetable impossible. Even before the shutdown, Kunal Kemmu had spoken about intellectual-property and logistical issues holding the sequel back. The March 2021 release never happened, and no replacement production schedule has subsequently been announced.

9. Kick 2

Sajid Nadiadwala made his directorial debut with ‘Kick’, released on July 25, 2014. Salman Khan played the thrill-seeking Devi Lal Singh, while Jacqueline Fernandez, Randeep Hooda and Nawazuddin Siddiqui filled out its principal cast. The action comedy grossed approximately Rs 388.70 crore worldwide.

Sajid Nadiadwala officially announced ‘Kick 2’ in February 2018 and gave it a Christmas 2019 release date. Christmas arrived, Devil did not. The filmmaker later explained that the screenplay needed more work and that he did not want to proceed merely because the first film had been successful. The sequel was announced again in October 2024 with a photograph of Salman, but there has still been no confirmed start of principal photography or release date.

10. Dabangg 4

Prabhu Deva’s ‘Dabangg 3’ released on December 20, 2019, with Salman Khan returning as Chulbul Pandey. Sonakshi Sinha, Saiee Manjrekar, Arbaaz Khan and Kichcha Sudeep joined him in the action entertainer, which grossed approximately Rs 218 crore worldwide.

Even before the third film reached theatres, Salman said that a fourth instalment had already “fallen in place”. Years later, however, there is still no locked screenplay. In 2024, Salman explained that he and producer Arbaaz had been presented with ideas they liked individually but had yet to agree on the same one. Arbaaz also dismissed reports claiming that Atlee had been signed to direct.

11. Apne 2

Anil Sharma’s boxing drama ‘Apne’ arrived on June 29, 2007. It starred Dharmendra, Sunny Deol and Bobby Deol as three generations of a family scarred and eventually reunited by the sport, with Shilpa Shetty and Katrina Kaif in key roles. The film grossed approximately Rs 38.85 crore worldwide.

‘Apne 2’ was officially announced in November 2020 with Dharmendra, Sunny, Bobby and Karan Deol, bringing three generations of the family together. Anil Sharma was to return as director, and the film was initially planned for Diwali 2021. The pandemic delayed filming, and the project remained pending. Dharmendra’s death in November 2025 then made the prepared screenplay unusable because he had a central role. Anil Sharma initially said the movie could not be made without him, while producer Deepak Mukut insisted it would continue as a tribute. Writer Neerraj Pathak clarified in May 2026 that the old script had been discarded and an entirely new story would be required.

12. PK Sequel

Rajkumar Hirani’s ‘PK’ released on December 19, 2014, starring Aamir Khan as an alien whose questions about religion and organised faith unsettle almost everyone he encounters. Anushka Sharma, Sushant Singh Rajput, Sanjay Dutt, Boman Irani and Saurabh Shukla played the other principal roles. The satire grossed approximately Rs 792 crore worldwide.

The ending introduced another alien played by Ranbir Kapoor, seemingly placing a giant neon sign over the possibility of a sequel. Producer Vidhu Vinod Chopra finally confirmed in February 2021 that the story would be taken forward with Ranbir. He also supplied the reason it had not happened: writer Abhijat Joshi had not written it, and the team did not want to cash in on the original without a worthwhile idea. No screenplay, director or production schedule has since been officially announced.

13. Andaz Apna Apna 2

Rajkumar Santoshi’s ‘Andaz Apna Apna’, starring Aamir Khan, Salman Khan, Raveena Tandon, Karisma Kapoor, Paresh Rawal and Shakti Kapoor, was released on November 4, 1994. The comedy initially underperformed, grossing approximately Rs 7.83 crore worldwide, before television reruns turned Amar, Prem, Crime Master Gogo and Teja – who was, of course, marked – into cult figures.

Rajkumar Santoshi said in 2013 that he was writing a sequel and had spoken to Aamir and Salman about returning. Since then, almost every possible version has been discussed: the original stars, younger actors and even an entirely new plot carrying only the title. In 2025, Aamir confirmed that Rajkumar Santoshi was again developing a script but stressed that it was at an early stage. The original producer’s family then complicated matters by asserting that it owned the rights and would not sell them to Aamir or Rajkumar Santoshi. The sequel therefore needs a finished script, an agreed cast and a solution to its rights problem.

14. Pawan Putra Bhaijaan/Bajrangi Bhaijaan 2

Kabir Khan’s ‘Bajrangi Bhaijaan’ was released on July 17, 2015. Salman Khan played Pawan, a devoted Hanuman follower who attempts to reunite a lost Pakistani child, played by Harshaali Malhotra, with her family. Kareena Kapoor Khan and Nawazuddin Siddiqui completed the main cast. The film grossed approximately Rs 921 crore worldwide.

Salman announced a sequel at the Hindi pre-release event for ‘RRR’ in December 2021 and subsequently referred to it as ‘Pawan Putra Bhaijaan’. Kabir immediately added a rather important footnote: there was no completed script or even a fully developed idea at the time. He later said discussions were continuing but insisted he would return only if the sequel possessed an emotionally convincing story rather than merely a profitable title. No final screenplay, director or production schedule has been confirmed.

15. Don 3

Farhan Akhtar’s ‘Don 2’ released on December 23, 2011, with Shah Rukh Khan returning as the master criminal. Priyanka Chopra, Boman Irani, Kunal Kapoor and Lara Dutta joined him in the European heist thriller, which grossed approximately Rs 209.55 crore worldwide.

Excel Entertainment officially unveiled ‘Don 3’ in August 2023, this time placing Ranveer Singh in the title role. Farhan was returning as director, and Kiara Advani joined the cast in February 2024. The planned shoot was repeatedly delayed, Kiara was subsequently reported to have stepped away and Ranveer’s 2026 exit triggered a highly publicised dispute involving Excel Entertainment, industry associations and alleged financial losses. FWICE later withdrew its non-cooperation directive against the actor following mediation, but the disagreement did not put the movie back on set. With no officially announced replacement Don or new filming date, Farhan’s franchise is once again searching for the man whom eleven countries apparently could not catch.

Bollywood’s sequel waiting room proves that an announcement is not the same thing as a green light. Perhaps some of them will eventually break free from development limbo. Until then, their production histories remain elaborate sequels in themselves – packed with twists, exits, surprise returns and, unfortunately, no release dates.