Worrying For Bollywood? March Beckons Re-Releases, Holi Slot Goes Empty With Just The Diplomat, Dhadak 2 In Limbo

Holi is coming up on March 14 but the movies won't be. In an unusually dull month at the box office, only two Hindi films have been announced to release in theatres - The Diplomat (March 14) and Dhadak 2.

With no promotions and no pre-release buzz for Siddhant Chaturvedi and Triptii Dimri's Dhadak 2, murmurs have begun that it might get delayed. As per reports, the makers are focusing on getting CBFC clearance before commencing the promotions of the film. Its caste theme is reportedly a roadblock in its way. While no new releases is a chance for exhibitors and distributors to look for movies that can re-release, the audience will certainly be starved for fresh content.

Also read: No Festive Returns At Box Office: As Holiday Releases Fail, Will Singham Again, BB3 Turn It Around?

"I really hope The Diplomat does well because it is a good film with a story. As far as fewer releases are concerned, the stars are not coming out with their movies. This is not a good scenario for the exhibition sector also because there is a quarter closing in March. If there were some good releases, the month could have surely been good," film producer and trade expert Girish Johar said.

Johar also shared that traditionally, the month of March is slow for the cinema sector as the examinations of school students fall during the month. "In March, releases are traditionally slower because of examinations. A large section of the movie-going audiences are school kids. The exams and the prep begins and the business is slower," he stressed.  

"It (2025) is an unusually slow month. There are one or two releases that have been announced but there could have been more," he further shared. With major holiday slots going without any movies, let alone of the big stars, the question beckons whether or not the production houses and makers plan the release calendar in a more organised manner than stuffing small and big titles together in a short span of time. Clashes in the past-- Dunki vs Salaar, Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 vs Singham Again and more – can be avoided.

Also read: Box Office Report: Bad Start For Bollywood - Emergency, Azaad, Fateh Crash On Release, All Eyes On Sky Force And Deva

What then does the cinema sector have to offer then to the audiences? Re-releases. After Sanam Teri Kasam and Tumbbad performed well at the box office in their respective recent re-runs, it is clear that strategic re-releases can offer returns that even new titles can't. Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani has also turned into a classic re-release over the years.  

"When there is a scarcity of new movies there is opportunity for the film exhibitors to distributers to start re-releasing. On the national level Yash Raj Films regularly does re-releases and there are talks for more. Dil Toh Pagal Hai is also re-releasing. I hope there are some re-releases that go down to the local level and in the local language as well," Johar said.

"There have been talks of some Punjabi, Tamil, Marathi and Telugu re-releases... Then Surkhi Bindi, which really did well when it released, should also release so that audiences can watch them. It will help in the Punjabi market but by and large the box office will remain dull in March," he concluded.