Kartik Aaryan vs Ajay Devgn Round 2: Is the actor gearing up to challenge Drishyam 3 with another massive box office clash in October 2026?

The box office battle lines are being drawn early. Following the massive Diwali 2024 face-off, Kartik Aaryan and Ajay Devgn appear destined to lock horns again on the Gandhi Jayanti weekend of 2026.

T-Series announces release date for its upcoming romantic musical drama T178, arriving in cinemas on 1 October 2026 pic.twitter.com/3LpiVOQhYM

— T-Series (@TSeries) November 19, 2025

If industry whispers and recent release date blocking are to be believed, Bollywood is gearing up for an encore of the historic clash we witnessed between Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 and Singham Again. In a move that signals growing confidence in Kartik Aaryan’s box office pull, Bhushan Kumar’s T-Series has reportedly locked a release date that pits the young star directly against veteran superstar Ajay Devgn—again.

According to industry buzz, the team behind the highly anticipated Drishyam 3—led by Ajay Devgn and Panorama Studios—has marked the October 2, 2026 (Gandhi Jayanti) holiday for the release of the third installment of the cult crime-thriller franchise. However, in a surprising strategic move, Bhushan Kumar and Kartik Aaryan have reportedly announced the release of their upcoming untitled romantic musical drama for October 1, 2026—just one day prior.

This development comes hot on the heels of the Diwali 2024 clash, where Aaryan’s Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 went head-to-head with Rohit Shetty’s cop universe epic, Singham Again. While many predicted the clash would eat into the business of both films, the results showed that Aaryan could hold his own against a multi-starrer vehicle

What creates the most intrigue around this prospective battle is the stark contrast in genres. In the veteran’s corner lies a proven goldmine: Drishyam 3. Directed by Abhishek Pathak, the return of the Salgaonkar family is expected to be a cinematic event, riding high on the cult status of its predecessors. Countering this crime-thriller legacy is Kartik Aaryan’s untitled romantic musical with T-Series, reportedly helmed by Anurag Basu. While the project was initially buzzed to be the third installment of the Aashiqui franchise, rights issues may necessitate a fresh title.

Adding to Aaryan's rising stock is his current positioning within the industry. Beyond his stronghold with T-Series, the actor is now well-entrenched in Karan Johar’s Dharma Productions, with two films reportedly in the pipeline. This consolidation of support from Bollywood’s two biggest production houses (T-Series and Dharma) provides the strategic backing needed to announce release dates aggressively.

While the Diwali clash proved that two big films can coexist, trade analysts often argue that solo releases maximize revenue. The decision to release the Kartik Aaryan starrer on October 1—getting a one-day head start on Drishyam 3—suggests Bhushan Kumar is banking on a strong opening day to seize the narrative before the legacy franchise takes over the holiday screens. As of now, makers are keeping creative details of the romantic drama under tight wraps to build intrigue. But one thing is certain: October 2026 is already heating up to be a battle for supremacy.