Sunny Deol New Movie Filming Begins: Everything You Need to Know About ‘Antony 2026’
Trust BoxOfficeWala on Google
Get the most accurate box office data and movie results directly in your search feed.
Sunny Deol, Farhan Akhtar, and AR Murugadoss Begin Filming 2026 Action Thriller ‘Antony’: Everything You Need to Know
Mumbai, Monday, March 2. Sunny Paaji is officially in beast mode and he is not looking back for even a second. While the entire country is still reeling from the massive explosion that was Border 2 at the box office, Sunny Deol has already landed on his next set to begin filming a high-octane action thriller tentatively titled Antony. This project is a massive deal because it brings together Excel Entertainment’s Farhan Akhtar and Ritesh Sidhwani with the legendary filmmaker AR Murugadoss for the very first time.
Filming officially kicked off on February 27 in Mumbai with a private puja ceremony, pairing Sunny with the exceptionally talented Jyotika in a fresh combination that nobody saw coming. Directed by debutant Balaji Ganesh, the film is being fast-tracked for a 2026 release, adding yet another heavy hitter to Sunny’s already crowded calendar of blockbusters.
This news matters to the industry because we are witnessing the birth of a Legacy Shield for Sunny Deol. For years, critics said he was a star of the past, but 2026 is proving to be his personal playground where he is mixing old-school mass appeal with new-age cinematic brilliance. The fan wars are already heating up because rival fandoms are worried that Sunny is going to occupy every single holiday weekend in the coming year. If Antony succeeds, it proves that Sunny doesn’t just need nostalgia sequels like Gadar or Border to win. He can lead a fresh, stylish thriller backed by the most sophisticated producers in Mumbai and the most aggressive action minds from the South.
But here is my hot take on the whole situation. Is the Indian film industry becoming too dependent on a single 68-year-old superstar to save the box office every two months?
We are looking at a schedule where one man is releasing seven major projects in a single calendar year. It is a bold move, but is it a masterstroke or a massive case of overexposure?
Usually, when an actor does this many films, the quality drops. However, the names attached to Antony suggest otherwise. This isn’t just a movie; it is a calculated takeover. Do we really want a box office where only one name roars every month?
The Powerhouse Pairing of Sunny and Jyotika
The most fascinating part of this new project is the casting of Jyotika. She has been on a roll lately with her performance in Shaitaan and the Netflix series Dabba Cartel. Pairing her with Sunny Deol creates a dynamic that is both grounded and intense. According to NewsBytes, Sunny has reportedly allotted his summer dates to complete this shoot in one go. This suggests the makers want to capture a specific energy before he moves on to his mythological epic, Ramayana.
The Creative Brain Trust Behind the Camera
Listen to the names behind this film. You have Farhan Akhtar, the man who redefined urban cool with Don. Then you have AR Murugadoss, the man who gave us the original Ghajini. Now, add Balaji Ganesh to the mix. The Times of India reported that Balaji is a Chennai-based filmmaker who has spent years assisting Murugadoss and even worked on the Salman Khan starrer Sikandar.
He isn’t just a “new” director; he is a seasoned professional who has been trained in the Murugadoss school of high-stakes storytelling. This team is designed to ensure Antony isn’t just a “dhishoom-dhishoom” movie but a suspense-driven thriller with a soul.
The Impossible 2026 Calendar Breakdown
If you think Antony is a lot, look at the rest of Sunny’s plate for 2026. Cinema Express and Mid-day have confirmed a lineup that would make any younger star sweat. He started the year with Border 2 on January 23, which has already crossed the 400 crore mark worldwide.
Next up is Gabru on May 8, which features a special appearance by Salman Khan. Then comes Ikka on Netflix in June, followed by the organ-trafficking thriller Soorya in July. As if that wasn’t enough, Aamir Khan-produced Lahore 1947 hits theatres on August 13, and the year ends with him playing Lord Hanuman in Ramayana during Diwali. Antony is the final piece of this puzzle, aiming for a slot that could potentially bridge the gap between his summer and monsoon releases.
The Shift Toward Pan-Indian Sophistication
The industry buzz is that Antony is being positioned as a pan-Indian venture. It isn’t just a Bollywood film; it is being crafted to appeal to the South market as well, which explains the involvement of Jyotika and Murugadoss. According to a report by Bollywood Hungama, the film aims to strike a balance between stylized action and a deep emotional core.
This is the new formula for success in 2026. You cannot just have a hero screaming; you need a plot that keeps the audience guessing. With Excel Entertainment’s polished production values, Antony might be the most “modern” Sunny Deol film we have seen in decades.
Honestly, I am rooting for this. Seeing Sunny Paaji collaborate with Farhan Akhtar feels like a full-circle moment for Bollywood fans who grew up watching Dharmendra and Javed Akhtar create magic together. It is good news because it shows that our veteran stars are willing to experiment with new directors and fresh genres instead of just playing it safe. Antony feels like the kind of project that could give Sunny a “cool” factor that he hasn’t had since the 90s. As long as the scripts are solid, I say bring on all seven films!
My Take
Original Source: First reported by NewsBytes and confirmed by official team pictures shared on March 2, 2026.
Question For You: With seven releases planned for 2026, which Sunny Deol avatar are you most excited for—the patriotic soldier, the mythological god, or the gritty thriller hero in Antony?
🔥 Latest Box Office News
About the Author
Join BoxOfficeWala
Get Box Office Updates Directly on Whatsapp from Your Personal Box Office Insider
