Although 2023 is more than halfway over, the year still has plenty more to offer in terms of films and television, and in particular, Bollywood has a variety of movies coming out in the second half of the year that are highly anticipated. Bollywood is the India’s movie industry, located out of Mumbai. The term is a play on words, combining America’s Hollywood with Bombay, another name for India’s Mumbai. Overall, Bollywood produces a wide range of films, from wide-scale musicals to intense action films and thrillers.

The upcoming movie season is sure to be a strong one for Bollywood. The following list is comprised of the most highly anticipated and interesting films coming out of the Indian film industry from August to December 2023. While each film is unique in its own right, all ten are sure to have plenty of Bollywood’s shining stars, charm, and culture. From musicals to historical fiction and sequels to dramas, Bollywood’s upcoming releases are all great candidates for your next movie night.

10 Akelli

A highly anticipated Bollywood film arriving in only a matter of weeks is Akelli. The thriller stars Bharuccha as Jyoti, an “ordinary Indian girl” who finds herself in the midst of a combat zone, where she must struggle to save her life. The film is particularly exciting because it is director Pranay Meshram’s directorial debut. According to Outlook India, the film is inspired by a true story. Meshram noted that the film is meant to raise awareness about the real life problem of individuals traveling to foreign countries for jobs, only to find themselves trapped in dangerous situations. Akelli will be released on August 18.

9 Dream Girl 2

Another Bollywood hit being released in August is Dream Girl 2. A loose sequel to 2019’s Dream Girl, the film focuses once again on Karam Singh, a down-on-his-luck man who uses his talent for voice acting to impersonate a young woman named Pooja. In Dream Girl 2, Karam must return as Pooja in order to save his father from his debts, and hopefully, to woo the woman he’s in love with. Dream Girl’s star, Ayushmann Khurrana will be returning. This film is sure to be both lighthearted and hilarious, making it a perfect foil for the other darker films on this list. Dream Girl 2 premieres on August 25.

8 Jawan

The start of fall is bound to see some amazing films, one of which is going to be Jawan. The action thriller, whose title translates to “Soldier” in English, follows a man determined to protect society and maintain his promises with the help of a league of women. This movie is not only highly anticipated by Bollywood audiences, but it also stands out for a variety of reasons. First, Jawan will be the first Hindi Bollywood movie made by famous director Atlee. Additionally, the film’s star, Shah Rukh Khan will be playing a dual role, meaning he will play two characters. Jawan will be released to audiences on September 7.

7 Luv You Shankar

Coming in late September is an animated Bollywood movie. Though not much is known about Luv You Shankar, the film is an exciting one due to the cast and crew involved. First and foremost, the film is directed by Rajiv S. Ruia of My Friend Ganesha fame, and also, includes stars such as Shreyas Talpade, Sanjay Mishra, Tanishaa Mukerji and Elakshi A. Gupta. Furthermore, the film is said to have an impressive and emotional score and will be provided in four different languages: Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, and Kannada. Luv You Shankar is premiering on September 22.

6 Animal

One of the most highly anticipated movies coming from Bollywood in 2023 is Animal. A very dark story, Animal is a crime drama surrounding a complicated father-son relationship in the midst of an extremely violent and gory crime underworld, which ultimately, leads the protagonist down a dark path of mental instability. Audiences have been anticipating the release of Animal for quite a while, and since its release was pushed from August to December, expectations are even higher. The film stars Ranbir Kapoor and is directed by Sandeep Reddy Vanga. Animal will be released on December 1.

Related: 10 Best Bollywood Romance Films For First Time Viewers

5 Tiger 3

Yet another long-awaited Bollywood sequel being released this year is Tiger 3. This is the fifth installment in the YRF Spy Universe and is the sequel to Tiger Zinda Hai. The film continues the story of Salman Khan’s RAW (Research and Analysis Wing) agent, first established in 2012’s Ek Tha Tiger. Furthermore, the movie is being directed by Maneesh Sharma. What makes Tiger 3 stand out among the other films in its franchise is that it is the most expensive YRF film to date. Additionally, its release is coinciding with the Hindu holiday, Diwali, on November 10. All in all, its release will be not only satisfying, but a definitive step towards expanding the YSF universe.

4 Sam Bahadur

Moving away from action films and thrillers, the next big Bollywood film to be released in 2023 is Sam Bahadur. This is a war movie and biopic following the life of Sam Manekshaw, the Indian Army’s Chief of the Army Staff during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971. Manekshaw was the first Indian Army officer to be promoted to field marshal and became one of the most decorated army officers in India. This impressive role will be performed by Vicky Kaushal, and the film is directed by Meghna Gulzar. Overall, this film will be epic in scale and importance, and is set to premiere on December 1.

3 The Archies

A Bollywood adaptation of a Hollywood film set for release at the end of the year is The Archies. Based on the Archie Comics, The Archies is a teen musical and comedy following Archie Andrews and his crew of iconic friends including Betty, Veronica, and Jughead. In particular, the film sees the Archie Comics gang experience their full scope of their adolescence from rebellion to first love. Set in the 1960s, this will most definitely be a unique and fun production full of nostalgia and music. The film is directed by Zoya Akhtar and will also appear on Netflix upon release. The Archies will premiere on November 24.

2 Dunki

Returning to Bollywood’s influx of action and crime films, Dunki, translated to “Donkey” in English, is a movie about an illegal backdoor path that Indians often use to migrate to the United States and Canada. Though not much is known about the film besides this brief concept, the movie is sure to be epic with Rajkumar Kirani as the director and Shah Rukh Khan in the leading role. This Shah Kukh Khan movie is his second major role of the year, as he is also starring in Jawan. Dunki will be released on December 22.

1 Yodha

Yodha is the final highly anticipated Bollywood release of the year. The thriller follows a soldier who must take action when the flight he is on becomes hijacked, leading to critical damage to the plane and a race for survival. The film stars Sidharth Malhotra and is directed by Sagar Ambre. This is yet another film whose release date was pushed from summer to the end of the year, therefore, audiences are eager to see the story come to live. The film is especially exciting because of its promise of high intensity and drama. Yodha will premiere on December 15.