Akshay Kumar Called Salman Khan Before Announcing Bhooth Bangla Release Date; Battle Of Galwan Delayed Because... - Report

Akshay

Kumar’s announcement of April 10, 2026 as the new release date for Bhooth Bangla created a ripple effect across Bollywood, especially after reports surfaced that Salman Khan’s Battle Of Galwan would no longer arrive on April 17, 2026 as originally planned. While early speculation suggested that Salman’s film was pushed to avoid a box office clash with Akshay’s horror-comedy, the latest reports claim that the real reason behind the reshuffle was a candid conversation between the two actors and unavoidable production hurdles faced by Battle Of Galwan. How did 'buddies' Salman and Akshay reach an agreement? Read on to know.

Inside Akshay Kumar-Salman Khan's phone call

According to a report in Bollywood Hungama, Akshay Kumar and Salman Khan personally spoke to each other before any release date decisions were finalised. The two stars, who share a long-standing friendship, are known for maintaining transparency in professional matters. "Akshay and Salman are buddies and share all their decisions with each other in a very transparent manner," the portal quoted a source. The report further stated that their friendship is not like the new-age actors where there are secrets about such things.

Why is Battle Of Galwan delayed?

During the conversation, Akshay reportedly checked with Salman about the status of Battle Of Galwan and whether the April 17 release date was locked. Salman candidly informed him that the film was facing challenges due to pending approvals from the Ministry of Defence. Given that Battle Of Galwan is inspired by the real-life India-China military clash, the project requires multiple clearances, and delays in approvals have impacted its timeline.That is when Akshay told Salman about his plans to release Bhooth Bangla on April 10, the report added. The final discussion was very cordial and rooted in mutual respect rather than competition. The actors had a very healthy conversation and are rooting for each others' films to succeed. Going further, the report even hints that a future two-hero project starring Akshay and Salman is not out of the question if the right script comes along. With such a close friendship, it is difficult to believe that a film announcement will sour relationship between the two.

More about Bhooth Bangla

Meanwhile, Bhooth Bangla marks Akshay Kumar’s reunion with filmmaker Priyadarshan and sees him return to the horror-comedy genre. The film stars Tabu as the female lead and has already generated strong buzz among fans. Initially scheduled to release on May 15, 2026, the film was preponed after the makers reassessed the release calendar.One of the key reasons behind the change was the presence of another horror film, Ekta Kapoor-produced Vvan, starring Sidharth Malhotra and Tamannaah Bhatia, which is also slated for May 15. Since both films belong to a similar genre, the makers of Bhooth Bangla decided to avoid a direct clash and secure a cleaner theatrical window by moving the release forward. Akshay himself announced the new date on social media with a quirky motion poster, further fueling excitement around the project.

As for Battle Of Galwan, the Salman Khan starrer is now likely to be pushed to the Independence Day 2026 weekend, a slot traditionally considered ideal for patriotic and action-driven films. While Salman’s team is yet to make an official announcement, industry insiders believe the shift will give the film ample time to secure approvals and complete post-production smoothly.