Akshay Kumar's 'Raksha Bandhan' to Salman Khan's 'Kabhi Eid Kabhi Diwali' – here are all the festive releases of 2021

2020 has been a washout year for Bollywood with no releases post mid-March. However keeping their hopes high, filmmakers are now banking on 2021 and all the important festive days have already been booked. If the pandemic ends, entertainment will be rolled out as usual in theatres. From Salman Khan's ‘Kabhi Eid Kabhi Diwali’ to Akshay Kumar starrer ‘Raksha Bandhan’ and Aamir Khan's next ‘Laal Singh Chaddha’ – take a look at all the festive releases of 2021.

In January 2020, Akshay Kumar had announced through a social media post that his film ‘Bachchan Pandey’ will hit the screens on January 22, 2021. The film was previously scheduled for Christmas 2020, but they gave away the festive date to Aamir Khan for ‘Laal Singh Chaddha’. While the pandemic has pushed the release of ‘Laal Singh Chaddha’ to Christmas 2021, it would to be interesting to see if Akki manages to keep his date around Republic Day next year.

Deepika Padukone, Anaya Panday and Siddhant Chaturvedi kick started the shooting for Shakun Batra's next in Goa. The team was scheduled to shoot in Sri Lanka, however owing to the pandemic, the film is being shot in Goa now. This yet-untitled venture is a take on modern day relationships. Produced by Karan Johar, this film was announced for release on February 12, just before Valentine’s Day weekend.

John Abraham recently unveiled the poster of ‘Satyameva Jayate 2’ and revealed that the film will hit the screens on Eid 2021, i.e. May 12. This patriotic drama is directed by Milap Zaveri and is aiming for a big box office clash. Interestingly, earlier this year Salman Khan had announced that his film ‘Kabhi Eid Kabhi Diwali’ will release during Eid 2021. If both the films stay put, then Bollywood is gearing up for one epic clash.

Come Independence Day and Ajay Devgn promises to narrate a story that will make every Indian proud. In July, Ajay Devgn had announced that his film ‘Maidaan’ will hit the screens on August 31, during Independence week 2021. Produced by Boney Kapoor, ‘Maidaan’ will feature Ajay in the role of Syed Abdul Rahim, the coach and manager of Indian football team from 1950. Directed by Amit Sharma, this film is a biopic of a legendary football coach.

While Bollywood had come to a standstill because of the pandemic, Akshay Kumar announced an exciting new venture. Scheduled to hit the screens during Diwali 2021, the film is titled ‘Raksha Bandhan’. “A story that touches your heart so deeply and so instantly, it’s the quickest I’ve signed a film in my career. Dedicating this film, #RakshaBandhan to my sister, Alka and to the most special bond in the world...that of a brother and sister,” Akshay had shared on Twitter. Directed by Aanand L Rai, ‘Raksha Bandhan’ will hit the screens on November 5, 2021.

Aamir Khan starrer ‘Laal Singh Chaddha’, which is the official Bollywood remake of ‘Forrest Gump’, was scheduled to hit the screens on December 2020. However the pandemic delayed the film’s release by an entire year. Aamir Khan will continue to keep his date with fans around Christmas, but just not this year. Directed by Advait Chandan, ‘Laal Singh Chaddha’ features Aamir and Kareena Kapoor Khan in the lead and will now release during Christmas 2021.