The much-awaited Bhagam Bhag 2, starring Akshay Kumar, has officially been delayed to August 2026 due to an ongoing legal dispute between producer Ekta Kapoor and director Raaj Shaandilyaa. The shoot, which was originally scheduled to commence in March 2026, has been postponed as the legal battle over alleged breach of contract continues to affect the film’s production schedule. Meanwhile, Akshay Kumar is making efficient use of his time by diving into Golmaal 5, the next installment of the popular comedy franchise, with a scheduled 18-day shooting stint beginning at the end of March 2026.

The Legal Battle and Delay

Reliable sources confirm that the shooting for Bhagam Bhag 2 has been delayed to August 2026, with the shoot schedule getting stalled due to the legal battle between Ekta Kapoor and Raaj Shaandilyaa. The shoot was originally scheduled to begin from March 2, 2026, with a 25-day schedule planned across India and Lucknow with actors Akshay Kumar, Manoj Bajpayee and Paresh Rawal.

According to reports, Ekta Kapoor has sent a legal notice to director Raj Shandilyaa linked to an alleged breach of contract, with the contract requiring Raj Shandilyaa to complete three films for Ekta Kapoor’s banner before taking other projects.

Production Timeline and Scheduling

Aspect	Details
Original Shoot Start Date	March 2, 2026
Originally Planned Duration	25 days
Delayed Shoot Date	August 2026
Akshay Kumar’s Golmaal 5 Schedule	End of March 2026
Golmaal 5 Shooting Duration	18 days (start-to-finish)
Female Lead	Meenakshi Chaudhary (Bollywood debut)
Male Lead	Akshay Kumar
Supporting Cast	Manoj Bajpayee, Paresh Rawal
Film Producer	Ekta Kapoor
Director	Raaj Shaandilyaa

Akshay Kumar’s Packed Schedule

Akshay Kumar is all set to start shooting for Golmaal 5 from the end of March, with him allotting 18 days for the film in a start-to-finish schedule. He will finish Anees Bazmee’s next, Golmaal 5 and another comedy before Bhagam Bhag 2 now.

The actor’s efficient management of his schedule allows him to leverage the time freed up by Bhagam Bhag 2’s delay, keeping himself occupied with other high-profile projects while the legal matters are resolved.

Meenakshi Chaudhary’s Bollywood Debut

South Indian sensation Meenakshi Chaudhary is set to make her high-profile Bollywood debut opposite Akshay Kumar in the upcoming film Bhagam Bhag 2. Meenakshi revealed that the opportunity felt like “perfect timing,” as she had been actively seeking a family-friendly script that resonated with her personal love for the genre.

For Meenakshi, joining the cast represents a full-circle moment as she fondly recalled watching the original Bhagam Bhag when she was much younger.

Director’s Response and Clarification

Filmmaker Raaj Shaandilyaa has addressed recent reports of a legal dispute with Balaji Telefilms, led by Ekta Kapoor, and confirmed that Bhagam Bhag 2 remains on schedule with the film being “very much on track and will proceed as planned”. However, industry sources contradicting this statement indicate the August timeline is more realistic.

Impact on Comedy Franchise

The delay of Bhagam Bhag 2 adds to a growing list of postponed comedy sequels in Bollywood. Earlier, Welcome To The Jungle was reportedly delayed by almost two years, and there were also reports of legal issues involving Akshay Kumar and Paresh Rawal connected to Hera Pheri 3.