Main Vaapas Aaunga
Theatrical release poster
Directed by Imtiaz Ali
Written by Imtiaz Ali
Nayanika Mahtani
Produced by
  • Sameer Nair
  • Deepak Segal
  • Mohit Choudhary
  • Shibhasish Sarkar
Starring
  • Diljit Dosanjh
  • Naseeruddin Shah
  • Vedang Raina
  • Sharvari
  • Banita Sandhu
  • Danish Pandor
Cinematography Sylvester Fonseca
Edited by Aarti Bajaj
Music by A. R. Rahman
Production
companies
Applause Entertainment
Birla Studios
Window Seat Films
Distributed by Birla Studios
Release date
  • 12 June 2026 (2026-06-12)
Running time
167 minutes[1]
Country India
Language Hindi
Budget ₹70 crore[2]
Box office ₹22.82 crore[3]

Main Vaapas Aaunga (transl. I Will Return) is a 2026 Indian Hindi-language romantic drama film directed by Imtiaz Ali. The film stars Diljit Dosanjh, Naseeruddin Shah, Vedang Raina, Sharvari, and Banita Sandhu.[4]

Principal photography began in August 2025 and ended in December 2025.[5] It was theatrically released on 12 June 2026 and received mostly positive reviews from critics.[6][7][8]

Plot

Ishar Singh Grewal, played by Shah, is on his deathbed remembering the events of and before partition. Shah's younger self is played by Vedang Raina. Nirvair, Ishar's grandson, attempts to make sense of his grandfather's words and learns about the partition of Punjab through the process. Eventually, he realizes that Ishar loved a girl named Afsana/Jiya.

Cast

  • Diljit Dosanjh as Nirvair Grewal
  • Naseeruddin Shah as Ishar Singh Grewal
    • Vedang Raina as Young Ishar/Keenu
  • Sharvari as Jiya / Afsana
  • Banita Sandhu as Kaveri[9]
  • Danish Pandor as Afzal
  • Kumud Mishra as BSF Chief
  • Rajat Kapoor as Iqbal Grewal
  • Sanjay Suri as Jasmer Grewal
  • Jaipreet Singh as Angad
  • Dolly Ahluwalia as Keenu's grandmother
  • Vinod Nagpal as Kitpal
  • Manish Chaudhary as Muzaffar Ahmedzai
  • Anjana Sukhani as Anjana Grewal
  • Rasika Agashe as Protima
  • Mashhoor Amrohi as Sarfaraz Rahman
  • Nikhat Khan as Rumana Ahmedzai
  • Sahil Mehta as Adil

Production

Development

The film was announced in June 2025, with Diljit Dosanjh, Naseeruddin Shah, Vedang Raina, Sharvari, and Banita Sandhu joining the cast.[10][11] It marks the second collaboration between director Imtiaz Ali and Diljit Dosanjh after Amar Singh Chamkila (2024).[12]

Filming

Principal photography for the film commenced in Punjab in October 2025.[13][14]

Soundtrack

Main Vaapas Aaunga Movie
Soundtrack album by
A.R. Rahman
Released 11 June 2026
Recorded 2025–2026
Length 33:33
Language Hindi
Label Tips Music
A.R. Rahman chronology
Gandhi Talks
(2026)		 Main Vaapas Aaunga Movie
(2026)		 Batwara 1947
(2026)
Official audio
Main Vaapas Aaunga – Full Album on YouTube

The film's music is composed by A. R. Rahman, with lyrics written by Irshad Kamil.[15] The first single titled "Kya Kamaal Hai", was released on 17 April 2026. The second single "Maskara" was released on 5 May 2026.[16]

Track listing
No. Title Singer(s) Length
1. "Kya Kamaal Hai" Diljit Dosanjh 4:59
2. "Maskara" Nilanjana Ghosh Dastidar, Vedang Raina 3:53
3. "Ishq Mastana" Mohit Chauhan, Nargis, Pooja Tiwari 4:34
4. "Vo Nahin" Adithya RK, Armaan Khan, Sameer Khan 4:47
5. "Dheere Dheere" Faheem Abdullah, Shilpa Rao, Antara Nandy, Heer 4:11
6. "Tere Paas Main - Female Version" Deepali Sahay 4:04
7. "Tere Paas Main - Male Version" Vipin Aneja 2:48
8. "Dariya" Armaan Khan 4:17
Total length: 33:33

Marketing

On 13 March 2026, four first-look posters were unveiled.[17]

On 7 June 2026, A.R Rahman, Nilanjana Ghosh, Vedang Raina, Mohit Chauhan, and Pooja Tiwari performed live at Attari–Wagah border ceremony in Attari, Amritsar. Imtiaz Ali who was also present there along with cast and crew of the film, said, "I am privileged to be a part of this troupe, and it is magical that this event is around Main Vaapas Aaunga, a film that originates from the making of the border during the Partition of 1947. Not only homes and lives were lost, but hearts were broken as well. We bring a message of love because, ultimately, only love sustains us."[18]

Release

Main Vaapas Aaunga was released on 12 June 2026. It was earlier planned to release in April 2026, coinciding with Baisakhi.[19][20]

Reception

Shubhra Gupta of The Indian Express gave the film 3 out of 5 stars and described the film as "an astounding take on Partition trauma". She particularly praised Naseeruddin Shah's performance, calling it "superbly-judged".[21]

Aishani of Outlook India reviewed the film and gave 3.5 out of 5 stars and wrote that Diljit Dosanjh and Naseeruddin Shah anchor a moving story of memory, migration and longing. [22]

Anuj Kumar of The Hindu described the movie as "an evocative exploration of memory, loss and longing, praising Imtiaz Ali's storytelling and the performances of Naseeruddin Shah and Diljit Dosanjh".[23]

Reviewing for Hindustan Times, Rishabh Suri praised the film as emotional resonance and described it as "a film that transforms memory and longing into compelling cinema".[24]

Dhaval Roy of Times of India gave 3.5 out of 5 stars and praised its performances and emotional storytelling, while noting that the film successfully captures "the pain and human consequences of partition".[25]

Reviewing for NDTV, Saeed Naqvi gave the film 3.5 out of 5 stars and wrote that Naseeruddin Shah delivers a "masterclass" performance in a heartbreaking narrative.[26]

Rahul Desai of The Hollywood Reporter India calls it "a partition-era story worth falling for." [27] Nandini Ramnath of Scroll.in writes in her review that "The film boldly confronts the severe psychological repression that followed Partition. However, Main Vaapas Aaunga sticks to the conventional portrayal as Muslims as the aggressors in communal riots."[28]

Vineeta Kumar of India Today, rated it 2 out of 5 stars and described the film as Ali's weakest film, writing, "the film reaches for grief and belonging, but its pacing and politics blunt the impact."[29]

References

  1. ^ "Main Vaapas Aaunga (15)". British Board of Film Classification. 5 June 2026. Retrieved 8 June 2026.
  2. ^ Puneet Upadhyay (12 June 2026). "Main Vaapas Aaunga: 70 करोड़ में बनी मैं वापस आऊंगा पहले दिन कितना कमाएगी, क्या टूटेगा शरवरी वाघ की इन 2 फिल्मों का रिकॉर्ड?". TV9 Hindi. Retrieved 12 June 2026.
  3. ^ "Main Vaapas Aaunga box-office collection". Bollywood Hungama. 12 June 2026. Retrieved 13 June 2026.
  4. ^ Arya, Prachi (13 March 2026). "Main Vaapas Aaunga teaser: Diljit film is about love in the time of Partition". India Today. Retrieved 13 March 2026.
  5. ^ "Imtiaz Ali's next film gets a release date". Cinema Express. 29 January 2026. Retrieved 13 March 2026.
  6. ^ Nyayapati, Neeshita (12 June 2026). "Main Vaapas Aaunga box office collection day 1: Imtiaz Ali film does not beat Love Aaj Kal 2 opening; collects ₹1.15 cr". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 12 June 2026.
  7. ^ Sharma, Riya (13 March 2026). "Main Vaapas Aaunga teaser: Diljit Dosanjh tells dreamy love story interrupted by Partition; fans get Love Aaj Kal vibes". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 2 June 2026.
  8. ^ Sharma, Riya (16 March 2026). "Anurag Kashyap tells his fans to go watch Main Wapas Aunga by Imtiaz Ali". The Print. Retrieved 16 June 2026.
  9. ^ Anand, Akriti (14 September 2025). "Banita Sandhu To Star Opposite Diljit Dosanjh In Imtiaz Ali's Partition Drama: Report". News18 India. Retrieved 13 March 2026.
  10. ^ "Imtiaz Ali announces new film with Diljit Dosanjh, Naseeruddin Shah, Vedang Raina, Sharvari". ANI. 14 June 2025. Retrieved 13 March 2026.
  11. ^ "Main Vaapas Aaunga Teaser: Diljit Dosanjh, Sharvari And Vedang Raina's Dreamy Tale Of Love And Longing". NDTV. 13 March 2026. Retrieved 13 March 2026.
  12. ^ "Imtiaz Ali's Next Starring Diljit Dosanjh, Vedang Raina and Sharvari Gets Release Date". The Hollywood Reporter India. 3 February 2026. Retrieved 13 March 2026.
  13. ^ "Imtiaz Ali begins shooting for the second schedule of his next with Diljit Dosanjh, Vedang Raina and Sharvari". Cinema Express. 10 October 2025. Retrieved 14 March 2026.
  14. ^ "Imtiaz Ali and Diljit Dosanjh join for a new love story; shoot begins in Punjab". The Times of India. 10 October 2025. Retrieved 14 March 2026.
  15. ^ "Diljit Dosanjh's new partition-era love story from director Imtiaz Ali gets a title: Watch teaser". The Week. 13 March 2026. Retrieved 13 March 2026.
  16. ^ "'Maskara' from Main Vaapas Aaunga is a peppy, playful yet heartfelt love song". Cinema Express. 5 May 2026. Retrieved 5 May 2026.
  17. ^ "Main Vaapas Aaunga: Imtiaz Ali reveals poster of Diljit Dosanjh-Starrer ahead of teaser launch". Bollywood Hungama. 13 March 2026. Retrieved 13 March 2026.
  18. ^ https://www.hindustantimes.com/entertainment/bollywood/main-vaapas-aaunga-makes-history-at-attari-border-as-a-r-rahman-performs-imtiaz-ali-hails-solidarity-and-love-watch-101780891159599.html
  19. ^ Krishnan, Achu (14 June 2026). "Imtiaz Ali's next love story to release on Baisakhi 2026". WION. Retrieved 13 March 2026.
  20. ^ Hindu, The (29 January 2026). "Imtiaz Ali's next feature with Diljit Dosanjh gets new release date". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 4 June 2026.
  21. ^ "Main Vaapas Aaunga movie review: Diljit Dosanjh film an astounding take on Partition trauma". The Indian Express. 11 June 2026. Retrieved 11 June 2026.
  22. ^ "Main Vaapas Aaunga Review: Naseeruddin Shah, Diljit Dosanjh Shine in Imtiaz Ali's Partition Story". Outlook India. 11 June 2026. Retrieved 11 June 2026.
  23. ^ Kumar, Anuj (11 June 2026). "'Main Vaapas Aaunga' movie review: Imtiaz Ali's love story for the ages". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 11 June 2026.
  24. ^ Suri, Rishabh (11 June 2026). "Main Vaapas Aaunga review: Imtiaz Ali, Naseeruddin Shah turn memory and longing into cinema that can't be missed". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 11 June 2026.
  25. ^ "Main Vaapas Aaunga Movie Review: This poetic and deeply emotional tale of unfinished love leaves a lingering ache". timesofindia.indiatimes.com. Retrieved 11 June 2026.
  26. ^ "Main Vaapas Aaunga Review: Titan Naseeruddin Shah Delivers A Masterclass In Imtiaz Ali's Heartbreaking Film".
  27. ^ "'Main Vaapas Aaunga' Movie Review: Imtiaz Ali Returns With A Euphoric Ode to Humanity". The Hollywood Reporter India. 12 June 2026.
  28. ^ Ramnath, Nandini (11 June 2026). "Review: In 'Main Vaapas Aaunga', to love is to remember and to remember is to love". Scroll.in. Retrieved 11 June 2026.
  29. ^ Kumar, Vineeta (11 June 2026). "Main Vaapas Aaunga review: Diljit Dosanjh leads Imtiaz Ali's weakest film". India Today. Retrieved 13 June 2026.