Batch of 2026: First-timers In the Director’s Chair

2025 saw many promising directors like Boman Irani, Sonu Sood, Karan Singh Tyagi, Shazia Iqbal and Tisca Chopra make their first feature film. They brought new ideas and unique ways of storytelling, grabbing the audiences’ and the industry’s attention with their debut projects.

2026 will also see a wave of new directorial voices, armed with fresh, engaging stories and clear vision, attempting to make a significant impact with their debut films. At a time when Bollywood is actively seeking new voices and narrative reinvigoration, these new generations of directors come with intelligence, creativity, and ambition that hold the power of redefining Bollywood altogether. Here’s the new batch of debut directors to look forward to.

1. Hrithik Roshan

After enthralling audiences with his looks and acting skills for 25 years, Hrithik is set to foray into direction with the most-anticipated "Krrish 4." The Bollywood superstar, who has starred in all three previous films in the franchise, will take on dual roles as both actor and director, while his father, Rakesh Roshan, who helmed the earlier installments, will serve as a producer alongside Aditya Chopra of Yash Raj Films.

Hrithik has ambitious plans to take the homegrown superhero franchise ahead and is presently deeply immersed in the preparations. He has spent years learning the intricacies of VFX and filmmaking and is leaving no stone unturned to mount "Krrish 4" on the largest scale possible and deliver a visual cinematic experience on par with international superhero blockbusters. Production is expected to commence in the second half of 2026, aiming for a major theatrical release in 2028.

2. Arijit Singh

One of the most celebrated singers of India, Arijit is now eyeing a career in feature filmmaking. The internationally renowned vocalist is turning director with a jungle adventure film, produced by Mahaveer Jain. Details about the project remain under wraps, but reports suggest it’s an ambitious film, with shooting expected to begin in the first half of 2026. The yet-untitled film is currently in the casting stage. 

For years, Arijit has mesmerized audiences with his soulful voice. It would be interesting to see how his passion for filmmaking unfolds and is embraced.

3. Sumit Arora

After establishing himself as a credible dialogue and screenplay writer with films and shows such as "Stree," "Chandu Champion," "83," "Jawan," "The Family Man" and "Dahaad," Sumit Arora is shifting gears. He is venturing into direction with a high-concept fun film, slated to go into production post-monsoon. Casting and plot details are currently kept under wraps.

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4. Sourabh Gupta

Best known for writing the dialogues for Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s "Animal" and Sunny Deol’s "Jaat," Saurav has previously directed a short film, "Gulabi Lens" (2020), revolving around a newly married couple navigating their life in the city of Mumbai. He is now foraying into feature film direction with Phantom Studios’s next action love story, "Laikey Laikaa." Munjya fame Abhay Verma and Raveena Tandon’s daughter Rasha Thadani play the lead roles in this project, billed as a genre-bending, new-age love story. The film recently finished production and is set to release in cinemas in summer 2026.

5. Ritesh Shah

Another screenwriter who’s ready to go behind the camera following years of writing films and shows. Ritesh Shah—a seasoned screenplay writer widely known for penning critically acclaimed films like "Kahaani," "Airlift," "Pink," "Sardhar Udham," "Raid," and "Batla House," among others— turns director with "Ghooskhor Pandat", an intense crime drama starring Manoj Bajpayee, Saqib Saleem and Akshay Oberoi in lead roles. 

Ritesh makes his transition to direction after nearly two decades of a writing career. The film is produced by Neeraj Pandey under his Friday Filmworks banner and will premiere directly on Netflix in early 2026.

6. Aakash Kaushik

Aakash Kaushik, whose writing credits include films like "Housefull 4," "Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2" & 3, and "A Flying Jatt," makes his directorial debut with a romantic comedy starring Ayushmann Khurrana and Sara Ali Khan. Although this film has been ready for over a year now, Dharma Productions is eyeing its release in the first half of 2026. Aakash is also said to be in talks with Ekta Kapoor to direct "Udta Punjab 2," though the project is still at the nascent stage and is awaiting Shahid Kapoor’s approval.

7. Vivek Daschaudhary

Rajkummar Rao is launching his production banner, and the first film to come out of the company will be Vivek Daschaudhary’s directorial debut, "Toaster". Having previously assisted Raj & DK on "Guns & Gulaabs," the director tackles a murder mystery in his first film, featuring an ensemble cast, including Sanya Malhotra, Archana Puran Singh, Abhishek Banerjee, Upendra Limaye, Vinod Rawat, Jitendra Joshi, and Seema Pahwa. The film will premiere on Netflix in early 2026.

8. Sreeti Mukerji

After assisting Ayan Mukerji on "Yeh Jawani Hai Deewani" and "Brahmastra Part 1: Shiva," Sreeti is set to make her directorial debut with an Amazon Prime film, produced by Alia Bhatt’s Eternal Sunshine Pictures and Chalkboard Entertainment, which is known for backing the critically acclaimed films like "Gulmohar," "Jaadugar," and "The Mehta Boys". The yet-untitled film is said to be a high-concept young adult film along the lines of "Wake Up Sid", but told from a girl’s perspective. Shooting is underway.