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EYE ON BOLLYWOOD                                                    JANUARY 10, 2025       |  The Indian Eye 27


                                       LOOKING FORWARD 2025




           Blasts from the past: How a slate of




               sequels may shine at BO this year






        OUR BUREAU
        Mumbai

              ollywood is set to usher in 2025
              as a landmark year with an im-
        Bpressive slate of sequels and
        franchise  films.  Audiences  can  look
        forward to the return of fan-favourite
        titles such as ‘Don 3’, ‘Raid 2’, ‘Jolly
        LLB 3’, ‘Housefull 5’, ‘War 2’, and
        ‘Welcome to the Jungle’. These films
        promise a mix of nostalgia and nov-
        elty, ensuring a cinematic feast filled
        with familiar faces and fresh twists.
            The dominance of sequels and
        franchises continue to shape Bolly-
        wood’s  narrative  landscape.  Film-
        makers are increasingly tapping into
        established storylines and beloved
        characters to deliver guaranteed
        Box-Office hits. With 2025’s packed
        lineup, Bollywood  is set  to  double
        down on this trend, promising a
        blend of action, drama, comedy, and
        romance.
             Here are the major releases
                  to watch out for:
                     Raid 2
            Ajay Devgn returns in ‘Raid 2’,
        the sequel to the 2018 crime thrill-
        er that captivated audiences with                   Ajay Devgn returns in ‘Raid 2’, the sequel to the 2018 crime thriller that captivated audiences
        its gripping story of tax raids and
        corruption. Directed by Raj Kumar
        Gupta, the sequel is all set to bring        Jolly LLB 3                Known for its slapstick humour  queline Fernandez, Abhishek Bach-
        another intriguing quest led by IRS   In  2017,  Akshay  Kumar  and   and  ensemble  cast, the  ‘Housefull’  chan, and others, ‘Housefull 5’ is set
        officer, Amay Patnaik (Ajay Devgn).  Huma Qureshi starred in Jolly LLB   franchise  ups  the  ante  with  its  fifth   to deliver more chaos and laughter
            Ajay announced the release date                                 instalment. Helmed by Tarun Man- in 2025.
        for the highly anticipated sequel of   2, a spiritual sequel to Jolly LLB, re-  sukhani, ‘Housefull 5’ will be re-  War 2
                                          leased in 2013. The first film featured
        his film ‘Raid’ on December 3. Shar-  Arshad Warsi and Saurabh Shukla   leased in theatres on June 6, 2025.  ‘War’  (2019)  redefined  Bolly-
        ing the update, Ajay on Instagram   in the lead roles. Amrita Rao also   The  first  part  of  ‘Housefull’   wood’s action genre with Hrithik Ro-
        wrote,  “IRS  Amay  Patnaik’s  next   starred in the first part.    was  released in the year 2010  and   shan and Tiger Shroff’s high-octane
        mission begins from May 2025! Raid   Akshay  Kumar,  Arshad  Warsi,   starred Akshay, Riteish, Lara Dutta,   performances. In ‘War 2’, Jr NTR
        2 is all set to release on 1st May 2025!”  and Huma Qureshi are all set to en-  Deepika Padukone, Arjun Rampal   joins as the antagonist, while director
            The  film  also  features  Vaani                                and Boman Irani. The film was de-
                                          tertain the audience with their next
        Kapoor as the female lead, Ritesh   ‘Jolly LLB 3’.                  clared a hit, followed by another hit   Ayan Mukerji takes the lead, promis-
                                                                                                              ing bigger stunts and visual spectacle.
        Deshmukh as the antagonist and Ra-    The third instalment is expected   sequel ‘Housefull 2’ which was re-  The film is a sequel to the 2019
        jat Kapoor in pivotal role.       to tackle contemporary legal issues   leased in 2012 and included a stellar   action  thriller  film  ‘War’  which
            Directed by Raj Kumar Gup-                                      cast of Akshay, Ritiesh, John Abra-
        ta, ‘Raid 2’, is produced by Bhu-  while maintaining the franchise’s   ham, Shreyas Talpade, Jacqueline   starred Hrithik Roshan, Tiger Shroff
                                                                                                              and Vani Kapoor in the lead roles.
                                          trademark wit.
        shan Kumar, Kumar Mangat Pathak,                                    Fernandez, Rishi Kapoor, Randhir
        Abhishek Pathak, and Krishan Ku-            Housefull 5             Kapoor, Mithun Chakraborty and    Directed by Siddarth Anand, this
                                                                                                              high-octane action drama minted Rs
        mar.  The  film  is  presented  by  Gul-  The excitement for the latest  Asin. Both parts were helmed by di-  200  crores  within  seven  days  of  its
        shan Kumar and T-Series and is a   addition to the hit comedy franchise,  rector Sajid Khan.
        Panorama Studios production.      ‘Housefull 5’ is at an all-time high.  Featuring Akshay Kumar,  Jac-       Continued on next page... >>

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