With ‘Toxic’ marking Kiara Advani’s Kannada debut, more Bollywood actors step into South Indian cinema in 2026- Here's what you need to know

Kiara Advani has stepped into the realm of Kannada Cinema by accepting the lead role in the party-style Film, “Toxic”. Kiara co-stars with major names in the Industry, such as Yash, Nayanthara and Huma Qureshi. The filmmaker of this massive Pan-India Project, Geetu Mohandas, is gaining international prominence by adding a new language to Kiara’s filmic success by developing and showcasing projects from diverse languages and Cultures worldwide.

Janhvi Kapoor continues her Telugu journey with Ram Charan in the sports action entertainer ‘Peddi’. This marks her second Telugu outing after ‘Devara: Part 1’ alongside Jr NTR. With Buchi Babu Sana at the helm, the film reflects Janhvi’s expanding footprint in Southern cinema and her increasing comfort with regional storytelling.

Following acclaimed performances in ‘Sita Ramam’ and ‘Hi Nanna’, Mrunal Thakur is set to return to Telugu screens with ‘Dacoit’, where she stars opposite Adivi Sesh. The action-packed drama also features Anurag Kashyap, further elevating its pan-Indian appeal and positioning Mrunal as a strong bridge between Hindi and South Indian cinema.

Wamiqa Gabbi strengthens her multi-language portfolio with three major Southern projects lined up for 2026. She will appear in the Telugu action thriller ‘G2’, the Tamil romantic drama ‘DC’, and the Malayalam action film ‘Tiki Taka’. These diverse roles underline her growing reputation as a versatile, truly pan-Indian performer.

Saiee Manjrekar will be seen in the Telugu historical drama ‘The India House’, set in pre-independence London. The film blends romance with political unrest linked to the India House movement and also stars Nikhil Siddhartha and Anupam Kher. Notably, the project marks Ram Charan’s debut as a producer.

Raghav Juyal makes his South Indian debut with the Telugu film ‘The Paradise’, led by Nani and directed by Srikanth Odela. Known for his distinctive screen persona, Raghav’s move into Telugu cinema represents a significant expansion beyond Hindi projects like ‘Kill’ and ‘The Ba***ds of Bollywood’.

Akshay Oberoi also enters South Indian cinema with the much-anticipated Kannada pan-India spectacle ‘Toxic’. Featuring Yash, Nayanthara, Kiara Advani, Huma Qureshi, Rukmini Vasanth, and Tara Sutaria, the film marks a bold new chapter for Akshay as he ventures into regional cinema on a grand scale.

After earning acclaim for layered roles in Hindi cinema, Abhishek Banerjee steps into Tamil storytelling with the Netflix series ‘Legacy’. The show also stars R Madhavan, Gulshan Devaiah, and Nimisha Sajayan, and highlights Abhishek’s growing demand for performance-driven, pan-Indian digital content.

Adarsh Gourav is set to make his South Indian debut with the Telugu psychological sci-fi thriller ‘Happy Birthday Uma’. The project is particularly special as it allows the internationally acclaimed actor to perform in his mother tongue, adding a personal dimension to this important career milestone.

Following the success of Rishab Shetty’s epic ‘Kantara Chapter 1’, Gulshan Devaiah continues to strengthen his Southern presence. He will feature in the Tamil Netflix series ‘Legacy’ and also appear in the Telugu film ‘Maa Inti Bangaram’, where he will share screen space with Samantha Ruth Prabhu, further cementing his pan-Indian stature.