Salman Khan & Sanjay Dutt’s ‘7 Dogs’ Gets India Release Date — The Most Expensive Arabic Film Ever Made

The most expensive Arabic-language film ever made is headed to Indian theatres. The $40 million film, billed as the most expensive Arabic-language production ever made, releases in India on August 21, 2026 — nearly four months after its release in other countries on May 27. The film will release in Indian cinemas in Hindi and English.

The announcement was made with Salman Khan himself drumming up excitement, sharing the Indian announcement trailer of the film on his Instagram story.

The Story

7 Dogs is a 2026 Saudi Arabian action film directed by Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah and written by Mohamed El-Dabbah from a story by Turki Al-Sheikh.

The story revolves around a highly addictive pink drug, known as Pink Lady, that is rapidly spreading across the Middle East. Ahmed Ezz plays Interpol officer Khalid Al-Azzazi, who finds himself joining forces with Karim Abdel Aziz’s character to fight against the international crime syndicate, 7 Dogs.

An Interpol agent joins forces with a member of the 7 Dogs crime syndicate to fight drug trafficking.

What Salman Khan & Sanjay Dutt Play

Both Bollywood icons appear in special roles in the film. Salman Khan plays Johar, a sharp underworld leader who banters with and mocks members of the enemy gang while interrogating them.

Sanjay Dutt plays Ranjit, the commander of a heavily armed underworld gang.

The Full Cast

Bollywood stars Salman Khan and Sanjay Dutt have joined forces with international actors Monica Bellucci and Giancarlo Esposito for the upcoming action film 7 Dogs.

Lead Cast

The Directors

The movie is directed by Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah, known for their work on the ‘Bad Boys’ franchise.

The Belgian-Moroccan filmmaker duo are among the most sought-after action directors working today, having built their reputation through the Bad Boys franchise starring Will Smith and Martin Lawrence before making the leap to this ambitious Arabic-language production.

The Action Credentials

The film features a diverse cast from India, Egypt, Europe, Hollywood, and the Middle East, with action sequences designed by 87Eleven, the team behind ‘John Wick’.

The film’s combat and stunt sequences were developed with the involvement of 87Eleven, the renowned action and stunt company associated with the John Wick franchise, with veteran stunt designer Stephen Dunlevy, whose credits include ‘Mad Max: Fury Road’ and ‘John Wick’, leading the film’s action and stunt design.

Production & Support

Backed by Riyadh Season, an entertainment and cultural festival, and Saudi Arabia’s rapidly expanding entertainment sector, the project has been promoted as one of the largest and most ambitious Arabic-language film productions ever mounted.

Saudi Arabia had gone through a nearly 35-year ban on cinemas before it was lifted in December 2017 and theatres reopened in the country as part of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s Vision 2030 initiative to modernise society and diversify the economy.

The first film that was screened in the country after the reopening was Black Panther in April 2018. 7 Dogs represents how far Saudi Arabia’s entertainment ambitions have grown since that landmark moment.

Middle East Box Office Performance

The film had a red-carpet premiere in Cairo on May 22, 2026, ahead of its release in Arab countries on May 27. The initial release plan covered more than 600 cinemas in Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Bahrain and Oman.

During its opening weekend from May 28 to 31, 2026, 7 Dogs grossed more than $7 million across the Middle East and North Africa.

Box Office Milestones

Directors’ Message To Indian Fans

The directors said: “Around them, we had the opportunity to work with extraordinary performers from different parts of the world, including Monica, Giancarlo, Salman and Sanjay. That combination is what makes the film so special. We are thrilled that audiences in India will now get to experience 7 Dogs on the big screen.”

Why This Matters For Indian Cinema

The arrival of 7 Dogs on Indian screens on August 21 is a significant cultural moment — it marks one of the rare occasions that a Bollywood icon of Salman Khan’s stature has appeared in a non-Indian production as part of a genuinely international ensemble.

The film has already premiered across the Middle East, and will now make its way to Indian audiences, with the appearances of the two Bollywood actors expected to be a key point of interest.

For Sanjay Dutt, too, the film represents another chapter in a career that has consistently crossed international boundaries. Together, the pair bring a uniquely Indian flavour to what is otherwise the Arab world’s most ambitious cinematic production.

Read More: Cricket Icon Rohit Sharma Set To Make His Television Debut With His Own Show On Sony Entertainment Television & SonyLIV

FAQs