Varun Dhawan to headline Yash Raj Films' first horror film, Abhay Pannu to direct; worldwide release set for March 2028
Here's the latest update from the Bollywood world:
Yash Raj Films ( YRF ) is stepping away from its familiar territory of romance, action and big-screen dramas to try something it has never done before. The production house is making its first horror movie, with Varun Dhawan in the lead and Abhay Pannu, known for Rocket Boys, at the helm. The yet-to-be-titled movie will hit theatres worldwide on March 31, 2028. For a studio that has given audiences some of Hindi cinema's most memorable love stories and built a successful spy universe, horror is a rather new space to explore.
Adding to this, YRF ventures into horror for the first time with Varun Dhawan-led movie, sets March 31, 2028 theatrical rollout. (PTI) Varun Dhawan returns to Yash Raj Films Varun will be reuniting with YRF for the second time after Sui Dhaaga, but this time he will be seen in a genre he hasn't explored before. The movie is being backed by Aditya Chopra and will be produced by YRF CEO Akshaye Widhani. The makers have yet to share details about the storyline and the rest of the cast, but the project will mark the production house's first venture into horror.
Meanwhile, For Abhay Pannu, the movie marks a new milestone in his career. After earning recognition for creating Rocket Boys, he is now making the move from streaming to the big screen with his first theatrical feature as a director.
Notably, Varun has had a varied run at the movies in 2026, with Border 2 and Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai. Directed by Anurag Singh, Border 2 featured Varun alongside Sunny Deol, Diljit Dosanjh and Ahan Shetty. He played Hoshiar Singh in the movie, which was rolled out in theatres on January 23. He then reunited with his father, filmmaker David Dhawan, for Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai. The romantic comedy also stars Mrunal Thakur and Pooja Hegde, with Maniesh Paul, Jimmy Sheirgill and Mouni Roy in supporting roles.
As per the latest buzz, Yash Raj Films' last theatrical releases include War 2 (August 14, 2025), starring Hrithik Roshan, Jr NTR and Kiara Advani, and Saiyaara (July 18, 2025), featuring Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda. The studio also rolled out Mardaani 3, headlined by Rani Mukerji, and Alpha, starring Alia Bhatt and Sharvari, both rolled out in 2026.
In further updates, The production house has also been building its presence in the streaming space through YRF Entertainment. Its Netflix projects include the crime thriller series Mandala Murders (2025), starring Vaani Kapoor, and Akka (2026), featuring Keerthy Suresh, Radhika Apte and Tanvi Azmi.
On top of that, Monica Yadav is a senior entertainment journalist with Hindustan Times Entertainment, based in Mumbai, with nearly 11 years of experience covering Bollywood, Hollywood and Asian entertainment, including Korean, Chinese and Thai cinema, television and music. She is among the few Indian journalists in India with a dedicated focus on Korean entertainment, including K-pop and K-dramas, and has interviewed some of the industry's biggest stars while closely tracking the rise of global pop culture. Her reporting has also taken her beyond India, where she has covered travel, culture and entertainment. Alongside her work at Hindustan Times, her bylines have appeared in several international publications. Known for her in-depth interviews, feature stories and engaging storytelling, Monica enjoys exploring the human side of entertainment. From breaking news and long-form features to music coverage, explainers and on-camera conversations with artists, she is passionate about telling stories that connect with audiences across the world. Read More
Source: Hindustan Times