Hindi Movie Digest — September 12, 2026

Dhingra, Prashant

Hindi movies released this week

2 titles

Both released on 11 September, the two films diverge in their direction: one a star-studded remake, the other a character-driven adaptation.

Wait

Haiwaan

Crime / action thriller · Theatres · 11 September 2026

Director: Priyadarshan
Cast: Saif Ali Khan, Akshay Kumar, Boman Irani, Shriya Pilgaonkar
Opening day: ₹3–3.6 crore India net · roughly ₹4.6 crore worldwide gross

A Hindi adaptation of Priyadarshan's Malayalam thriller OppamSaif Ali Khan portrays a visually impaired caretaker who gets entangled in a murder investigation, while Akshay Kumar takes on the role of the villain.

The reviews: Hindustan Times rated the film 3/5, praising its final act for bringing everything together. However, Indian Express Bengali and Jansatta were less impressed, giving it closer to 2/5. The main criticism is the excessive length of the remake, which falls short of the original despite strong performances and effective thriller elements.

Where it stands commercially: the beginning is gentle for a project of this scale featuring two prominent leads.

Unless you're specifically interested in a Saif, Akshay, or Priyadarshan thriller, it's probably best to wait a few weeks and watch it on streaming.

Last Man in Tower

Drama · Theatres · 11 September 2026

Director: Ben Rekhi
Cast: Manoj Bajpayee, Divya Dutta, Boman Irani
Source: Aravind Adiga's novel

A Mumbai resident stands firm against a tempting redevelopment offer, while all his neighbors eagerly agree to sell. The ensuing pressure becomes the focal point of the film.

The reviews: The acting in the film has received mostly positive reviews, with unanimous praise for Manoj Bajpayee, Divya Dutta, and Boman Irani. Ratings range from 2.5/5 at Indian Express and Bollywood Hungama to 4/5 at Times of India. However, some critics have noted that the film's focus on a single track and its restrained approach may be limiting.

Where it stands commercially: This release has a small theatrical presence and a lackluster debut. It's more about critics and performances than making money at the box office.

The top new Hindi play option for those seeking a thought-provoking drama over flashy entertainment.

The biggest Hindi film in theatres right now

The movie, which came out a week ago, is still the talk of the town.

Top pick

Mirzapur: The Movie

Crime drama · Theatres · 4 September 2026

Cast: Pankaj Tripathi, Ali Fazal, Divyenndu, Shweta Tripathi and others
Box office: About ₹226 crore by day 8, per Indian Express

The reviews: Indian Express rated the film 3/5, highlighting the positive aspects such as Pankaj Tripathi's performance and the revival of the show's energy, but also pointing out the lengthy runtime.

Where it stands commercially: Incredibly powerful, it has successfully attracted a loyal streaming audience to the big screen, a feat not easily achieved.

The best choice for mainstream Hindi audiences at the theater, especially if you are already familiar with the genre. Mirzapur universe.

How last month's releases are holding up

4 titles

The lineup for August has neatly divided into a buzzworthy success, a nostalgic favorite, a disappointment, and a potentially controversial spectacle.

Sleeper hit

Hanuman Ansh

Biographical / devotional drama · Released 7 August

Subject: Based on Neem Karoli Baba
Opening day: About ₹10 lakh
Now: Around ₹176 crore in India (according to Bollywood Hungama), with some reports suggesting the gross is over ₹200 crore.

Starting from nothing, it blossomed into one of the biggest word-of-mouth hits of 2026. With minimal critical coverage, the audience discovered this gem on their own.

An authentic wonder. Worth exploring if spiritual or biographical movies intrigue you in any way.

Fans only

Awarapan 2

Action romance · Released 14 August

Cast: Emraan Hashmi, Disha Patani
Box office: India's net collection reached approximately ₹147.9 crore by August 30th (Sacnilk), following a first-week total of ₹113.
Scores: Rotten Tomatoes: 50% critics, 77% audience

The reviews: The Indian Express gave it a rating of 2.5/5, with praise for Emraan Hashmi, but criticized the lengthy and repetitive final act. Despite mixed reviews, strong nostalgia and a loyal fanbase have propelled its commercial success beyond expectations.

Commercially healthy, creatively divisive. Best if you loved the original.

Underperformed

Batwara 1947

Partition-era drama · Released 14 August

Cast: Sunny Deol, Preity Zinta, Shabana Azmi, Ali Fazal
Box office: Approximately ₹54.2 crore in worldwide gross and ₹38.08 crore in India net earnings were reported
Scores: Rotten Tomatoes: 60% from 15 critic reviews

The reviews: Critics praised Shabana Azmi and the film's compassionate portrayal of Partition, though some felt the storytelling was outdated or overly melodramatic.

Choose to focus on the subject and performances rather than aiming for a blockbuster, considering the competition it encountered within its scale.

Scale over story

Toxic: A Fairy Tale for Grown-Ups

Kannada-led pan-India release, including Hindi · Released 26 August

Cast: Yash, Kiara Advani, Nayanthara, Huma Qureshi and others
Box office: Around ₹334–337 crore worldwide gross after roughly two weeks

The reviews: Indian Express gave the film a rating of 1.5/5, with mixed reviews. While some praised Yash's screen presence, production design, and action sequences, others criticized the lack of depth in the story and emotional elements. The film opened to great curiosity but experienced a significant slowdown thereafter.

Keep an eye on it for the visuals and Yash's performance, not just the plot. With its reported high production cost, it's hard to label it a success or failure based solely on box office numbers.

Reported collections at a glance

Mirzapur: The Movie₹226 cr · India, day 8

Hanuman Ansh₹176 cr · India

Awarapan 2₹147.9 cr · India net

Batwara 1947₹38.08 cr · India net

Toxic₹334–337 cr · worldwide gross

Bars are compared based on the highest value displayed. The metrics are not directly comparable - India net and worldwide gross represent different measurements, and Toxic is a nationwide release in India rather than just in Hindi, so be sure to consider each bar in relation to its corresponding label.

New Hindi movies on OTT

4 titles

Streaming availability below prioritises India; it can vary by country.

New Hindi movies streaming, week of 12 September 2026
Title	Platform	Available	Signal	Weekend take
Ghamasaan	ZEE5	11 Sep	Pratik Gandhi and Arshad Warsi received widespread praise in reviews ranging from positive to mixed.	Recommended for crime and drama viewers
Dhamaal 4	Netflix	4 Sep	#1 on Netflix India today; theatrical reviews were mixed	Easy, light comedy pick
Gandhari	Netflix	3 Sep	#4 on Netflix India today; popular despite weak reviews	For a dark revenge thriller
Aankhon ki Gustaakhiyan	ZEE5	Available now	Romance and drama with Vikrant Massey and Shanaya Kapoor	The slower romantic option

Ghamasaan — ZEE5

Tigmanshu Dhulia revisits a law-versus-dacoit tale in Bundelkhand, starring Pratik Gandhi as an IPS officer and Arshad Warsi as the outlaw Maharaj. Cinema Express praised it as a well-executed dacoit drama, while Times of India gave it a more reserved rating of 2.5/5, noting disjointed storytelling.

Check out the latest gritty crime story in Hindi on an OTT platform this weekend - it's a must-watch!

Dhamaal 4 — Netflix

After a successful July theatrical release, the ensemble comedy starring Ajay Devgn, Riteish Deshmukh, and Arshad Warsi has now landed on Netflix and is currently the top trending show in India.

My weekend go-to: choose this for easygoing family or group fun, not top-notch quality.

Gandhari — Netflix

Taapsee Pannu stars in a kidnapping and revenge thriller that debuted on 3 September. While critics gave it low ratings (1.5/5 at Indian Express, 2.5/5 at Cinema Express), viewer interest has been high, with the movie trending in multiple countries and currently holding the #4 spot on Netflix India's Trending Now list.

Weekend call: beloved by fans, lacking in critical acclaim. Perfect for thriller enthusiasts who prioritize fast-paced action and Taapsee's performance over flawless writing.

If you would rather start a series

2 titles

Best binge

The Revolutionaries

8-episode Hindi historical drama · Prime Video · 11 September

Director: Nikkhil Advani
Cast: Bhuvan Bam, Rohit Saraf, Pratibha Ranta, Gurfateh Pirzada
Subject: The armed opposition to British rule led by Rash Behari Bose, Bagha Jatin, and Sachindranath Sanyal.

The reviews: The reviews were mixed for the film, with India Today and Indulge Express giving it a rating of 3.5/5, NDTV 2.5/5, and Cinema Express 2/5. Praise was given to the production scale, subject matter, and performances, while criticism was directed at the glossiness, length, and romantic subplots.

The most powerful Hindi movie this weekend is a serious long-form release that focuses on history rather than entertainment.

Family

Chumbak

16-episode Hindi family comedy · Netflix · 10 September

Cast: Neena Gupta, Deven Bhojani, Manasi Parekh, Sumeet Vyas and others

The top choice for family-friendly entertainment, offering a refreshing change from the abundance of crime and thriller options.

So what should you watch?

Pick the line that matches your evening.

One theatre movie

Mirzapur: The Movie

The safest option for a wide audience: high audience engagement, successful box office performance, familiar characters, and generally positive reviews.

A serious theatre movie

Last Man in Tower

Choose Manoj Bajpayee, Divya Dutta, and Boman Irani for a compelling Mumbai redevelopment narrative.

One OTT movie

Ghamasaan · ZEE5

Fresh, gritty and performance-driven.

Comedy

Dhamaal 4 · Netflix

Although not a favorite among critics, it is currently the top trending title on Netflix India and perfect for a simple weekend watch.

A thriller

Gandhari · Netflix

Popular and fast-moving, though the reviews are weak.

A series

The Revolutionaries · Prime Video

Likely the most powerful recent Hindi long-form release for history enthusiasts.

Watching with family

Chumbak · Netflix

A cozier, more secure alternative to the lineup of crime and thriller films.

The ranked weekend shortlist

These stars serve as a guide for viewers, complementing critic scores by factoring in review consensus, popularity, and weekend entertainment value.

Mirzapur: The MovieTheatre★★★★☆
GhamasaanZEE5★★★★☆
Last Man in TowerTheatre★★★★☆
The RevolutionariesPrime Video · series★★★½☆
Dhamaal 4Netflix★★★☆☆
GandhariNetflix★★½☆☆
HaiwaanTheatre★★½☆☆

Coming next

Lust Stories 3 — Netflix, 18 September 2026

Netflix has officially announced the upcoming third anthology installment featuring films by Vikramaditya Motwane, Kiran Rao, Shakun Batra, and Vishal Bhardwaj. Look forward to seeing it in next Saturday's release.

Questions readers ask

Which Hindi movie should I see at the cinema this weekend?

Mirzapur: The Movie leads the mainstream pack with around ₹226 crore in earnings by day 8, backed by glowing reviews from franchise enthusiasts. For a more subdued and thought-provoking experience, Last Man in Tower is the superior cinematic pick due to its strong performances.

Is Haiwaan worth watching in a theatre?

It's unlikely this weekend. Reviews vary from 3/5 at Hindustan Times to around 2/5 elsewhere, with criticism of the length and weaker impact compared to the Malayalam original. Oppam Initial reactions to the film's opening day box office numbers in India, ranging from ₹3-3.6 crore, may be considered underwhelming for a movie featuring Saif Ali Khan and Akshay Kumar. However, the film is expected to gain more traction once it is available for

Which new Hindi movies are streaming this week?

Ghamasaan premiered on ZEE5 on September 11, followed by Dhamaal 4 on Netflix on September 4, Gandhari on Netflix on September 3, and Aankhon ki Gustaakhiyan is now streaming on ZEE5. Ghamasaan stands out as the top choice for those seeking a gritty crime drama.

What is the total box office earnings of Mirzapur: The Movie?

The Indian Express reported that by day 8 after its release on 4 September, the film had earned approximately ₹226 crore. It is now the top talk of the town in Hindi cinema, successfully attracting the streaming franchise's audience to the theaters.

Why is Hanuman Ansh such a big hit?

The biographical devotional drama on Neem Karoli Baba started with word-of-mouth success, grossing around ₹10 lakh on opening day and eventually reaching over ₹176 crore in India, according to Bollywood Hungama. Limited critical coverage did not hinder its growth, as audiences fueled its success rather than reviews, with some reports even suggesting gross collections exceeded ₹200 crore.

What new Hindi series released this week?

Nikkhil Advani directed The Revolutionaries, an eight-episode historical drama that debuted on Prime Video on 11 September, while Chumbak, a 16-episode family comedy starring Neena Gupta, was released on Netflix on 10 September.

When does Lust Stories 3 release?

The third installment of Lust Stories will be available on Netflix starting September 18, 2026, featuring works by Vikramaditya Motwane, Kiran Rao, Shakun Batra, and Vishal