Balaji Motion Pictures has officially unveiled the first poster and release date for its upcoming mystical thriller VVAN – Force of the Forest, starring Sidharth Malhotra and Tamannaah Bhatia. Directed by Arunabh Kumar and Stephen Poppins, the film is now slated to hit theaters on May 15, 2026, after an earlier tentative schedule for Chhath 2025. The striking poster, featuring a shadowy forest and haunting glowing eyes, hints at a genre-bending cinematic experience rooted in Indian mythology and folklore.
The film promises a bold blend of fantasy, myth, and suspense, as the caption teases: “The forest has whispered. The force will be unleashed.” While plot details remain under wraps, VVAN is expected to explore ancient legends through a contemporary lens, tapping into a growing trend in Indian cinema that mirrors the scale and ambition of global fantasy franchises. The involvement of two directors—Kumar, known for his work in digital storytelling, and Poppins, recognized for visual craftsmanship—signals a unique creative synergy.
Produced by Balaji Motion Pictures in partnership with TVF Motion Pictures, VVAN also marks a new alliance between two major forces in the entertainment industry. Balaji’s cinematic scale paired with TVF’s narrative precision hints at a project that aims to go beyond standard genre boundaries. The film was first teased in late 2024 and has since built up steady anticipation, especially among fans of myth-based storytelling and high-concept cinema.
With Indian audiences increasingly embracing mythological and mystical themes—as seen in recent successes like Tumbbad, Adipurush, and Brahmāstra—VVAN arrives at the perfect moment. Its delayed release date likely reflects the technical demands of building a rich, immersive world onscreen. If the poster is any indication, VVAN won’t just be another fantasy thriller—it’s positioning itself as a cinematic force ready to echo through the forests and beyond.