# Gandhari (2026 film)
**Gandhari** (गांधारी) is a 2026 Hindi-language action-thriller film directed by Devashish Makhija, written and produced by [Kanika Dhillon](https://www.edgepedia.org/kanika-dhillon), and starring [Taapsee Pannu](https://www.edgepedia.org/taapsee-pannu) as Bani, a mother whose daughter is abducted and who loses her eyesight during the kidnapping before taking the search for those responsible into her own hands.[1](https://about.netflix.com/en/news/a-mothers-fight-against-all-odds-netflixs-gripping-thriller-gandhari-premieres-september-3-2026) • [2](https://www.netflix.com/in/title/81787058) It premiered on Netflix on 3 September 2026.[1](https://about.netflix.com/en/news/a-mothers-fight-against-all-odds-netflixs-gripping-thriller-gandhari-premieres-september-3-2026)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Director / writer | Devashish Makhija (director); Kanika Dhillon (writer and producer, Kathha Pictures)[1](https://about.netflix.com/en/news/a-mothers-fight-against-all-odds-netflixs-gripping-thriller-gandhari-premieres-september-3-2026) • [3](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/gandhari_2026) |
| Lead cast | Taapsee Pannu (Bani), Ishwak Singh (Gokul), with Chhaya Kadam, Swastika Mukherjee, Mita Vashisht, and Jatin Sarna[1](https://about.netflix.com/en/news/a-mothers-fight-against-all-odds-netflixs-gripping-thriller-gandhari-premieres-september-3-2026) |
| Premiere | 3 September 2026, Netflix (streaming only)[1](https://about.netflix.com/en/news/a-mothers-fight-against-all-odds-netflixs-gripping-thriller-gandhari-premieres-september-3-2026) |
| Setting | Joypurra, a fictitious town in Bengal, where masked performers called Behrupiyas are part of the local culture[4](https://about.netflix.com/en/news/when-a-mothers-grief-becomes-her-greatest-weapon-netflix-unveils-the-trailer-of-gandhari-premiering-september-3) • [5](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/movie-review/gandhari-movie-review-taapsee-pannu-film-is-neither-impactful-nor-believable-10861612/) |
| Runtime | 117 minutes per the Australian Classification Board; other listings give 1h 15m (Rotten Tomatoes) and 2h 2m (The Times of India)[6](https://www.classification.gov.au/titles/gandhari) • [3](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/gandhari_2026) • [7](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/movie-details/gandhari/movieshow/130017728.cms) |
| Censorship ratings | MA 15+ (strong violence) in Australia; U/A 16+ on Netflix India[6](https://www.classification.gov.au/titles/gandhari) • [2](https://www.netflix.com/in/title/81787058) |
| Critical reception | 17% on the Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer from 18 reviews[3](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/gandhari_2026) |
## Spoilers
### Plot and setting
Bani (Taapsee Pannu) and her husband Gokul ([Ishwak Singh](https://www.edgepedia.org/ishwak-singh)) are traveling by train with their five-year-old daughter Mishty when the girl is abducted. During the kidnapping Bani loses her eyesight, and the film follows her search for her daughter and for those responsible, a pursuit that leads to a child-trafficking racket.[7](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/movie-details/gandhari/movieshow/130017728.cms) • [2](https://www.netflix.com/in/title/81787058) Netflix's synopsis describes a mother who, having lost her eyesight and her daughter in a kidnapping, takes matters into her own hands to hunt down those responsible.[2](https://www.netflix.com/in/title/81787058)
The story is set in Joypurra, a fictitious town where fear and silence coexist with the Behrupiyas, masked and painted performers who form part of the town's cultural fabric.[4](https://about.netflix.com/en/news/when-a-mothers-grief-becomes-her-greatest-weapon-netflix-unveils-the-trailer-of-gandhari-premiering-september-3) [The Indian Express](https://www.edgepedia.org/the-indian-express) review notes the film also draws on a deity named Chaumukhi, a demon named Magrasur, and the swarms of behrupiyas as metaphorical elements.[5](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/movie-review/gandhari-movie-review-taapsee-pannu-film-is-neither-impactful-nor-believable-10861612/) [Jatin Sarna](https://www.edgepedia.org/jatin-sarna) plays Kabir, the officer leading the investigation.[4](https://about.netflix.com/en/news/when-a-mothers-grief-becomes-her-greatest-weapon-netflix-unveils-the-trailer-of-gandhari-premiering-september-3)
## Production
Taapsee Pannu began shooting the film in December 2024, with Devashish Makhija directing and Kanika Dhillon producing.[8](https://www.yugmarg.com/edition/2024/12/20/pages.pdf) Pannu wrapped the shoot in March 2025, saying she had given everything to the film.[9](https://avenuemail.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/The-Avenue-Mail-March-18.pdf) The film was announced as part of the Netflix 2026 slate in January 2026, and the release date was announced on 21 August 2026.[10](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/amp/story/ott/news/2026/Aug/21/taapsee-pannu-ishwak-singh-starrer-gandhari-finally-gets-a-release-date) Netflix described the role as one of Pannu's most physically demanding, combining extensive action with what the streamer called a deeply human core.[1](https://about.netflix.com/en/news/a-mothers-fight-against-all-odds-netflixs-gripping-thriller-gandhari-premieres-september-3-2026) A poster released with the date announcement staged Pannu against a towering shadow of the goddess Kali.[10](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/amp/story/ott/news/2026/Aug/21/taapsee-pannu-ishwak-singh-starrer-gandhari-finally-gets-a-release-date)
The film reunites Netflix with Dhillon and Pannu following *Phir Aayi Hasseen Dillruba*.[1](https://about.netflix.com/en/news/a-mothers-fight-against-all-odds-netflixs-gripping-thriller-gandhari-premieres-september-3-2026) The technical crew includes cinematographer [Amit Roy](https://www.edgepedia.org/amit-roy), editor Naman Arora, and the action team of Brahim Achhabake, Riyaz Shaikh, Habib Sayed, and Anis Shaikh.[11](https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/movie/gandhari/critic-review/gandhari-movie-review/gandhari-is-a-below-average-revenge-drama/)
## Plagiarism dispute
Before release, a writer accused the filmmakers of copying her concept and using her title. Kathha Pictures rejected the allegations, stating that *Gandhari* is an original story written by Kanika Dhillon and developed by the studio, and asked media and the public not to treat the claims as established fact.[12](https://english.publictv.in/taapsee-pannus-gandhari-makers-reject-plagiarism-allegations/) • [13](https://www.tv9hindi.com/entertainment/bollywood-news/gandhari-taapsee-pannu-copying-allegations-makers-call-claims-false-and-unverified-3889175.html)
## Release and reception
Netflix released the trailer on 25 August 2026; the Netflix India trailer upload recorded more than 15 million views.[4](https://about.netflix.com/en/news/when-a-mothers-grief-becomes-her-greatest-weapon-netflix-unveils-the-trailer-of-gandhari-premiering-september-3) • [14](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cq58YGCO_2c) The film premiered on 3 September 2026, streaming only on Netflix, with audio tracks in Hindi, English, Tamil, and Telugu.[1](https://about.netflix.com/en/news/a-mothers-fight-against-all-odds-netflixs-gripping-thriller-gandhari-premieres-september-3-2026) • [2](https://www.netflix.com/in/title/81787058) The Australian Classification Board rated it MA 15+ for strong violence, classifying the 117-minute film on 2 September 2026.[6](https://www.classification.gov.au/titles/gandhari)
**Critical response was largely negative.** The film holds a 17% Tomatometer on Rotten Tomatoes from 18 reviews.[3](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/gandhari_2026) Shubhra Gupta of The Indian Express gave it 1.5 out of 5, writing that it is neither impactful nor believable.[5](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/movie-review/gandhari-movie-review-taapsee-pannu-film-is-neither-impactful-nor-believable-10861612/) Bollywood Hungama rated it 2.0 out of 5, calling it a below-average revenge drama salvaged to an extent by Pannu's performance, while criticizing weak writing in the third act.[11](https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/movie/gandhari/critic-review/gandhari-movie-review/gandhari-is-a-below-average-revenge-drama/) The Times of India gave 2.5 out of 5, describing the film as a 90s-style drama in search of a contemporary voice.[7](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/movie-details/gandhari/movieshow/130017728.cms) The most favorable review among those aggregated was Tanisha Bhattacharya's 3 out of 5 for NDTV, which called the film an arresting showcase of a continuing social truth.[3](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/gandhari_2026) On IMDb the film held a 5.1/10 rating from 9,435 votes.[15](https://moviewala.live/hi/movies/gandhari)
## References
1. [A Mother's Fight Against All Odds: Netflix's Gripping Thriller 'Gandhari' Premieres September 3, About Netflix](https://about.netflix.com/en/news/a-mothers-fight-against-all-odds-netflixs-gripping-thriller-gandhari-premieres-september-3-2026)
2. [Gandhari, Netflix Official Site](https://www.netflix.com/in/title/81787058)
3. [Gandhari (2026), Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/gandhari_2026)
4. [When a Mother's Grief Becomes Her Greatest Weapon: Netflix Unveils the Trailer of 'Gandhari,' Premiering September 3, About Netflix](https://about.netflix.com/en/news/when-a-mothers-grief-becomes-her-greatest-weapon-netflix-unveils-the-trailer-of-gandhari-premiering-september-3)
5. [Gandhari movie review: Taapsee Pannu film is neither impactful nor believable, The Indian Express](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/movie-review/gandhari-movie-review-taapsee-pannu-film-is-neither-impactful-nor-believable-10861612/)
6. [Gandhari, Australian Classification](https://www.classification.gov.au/titles/gandhari)
7. [Gandhari Movie (2026), The Times of India](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/movie-details/gandhari/movieshow/130017728.cms)
8. [Yugmarg edition, 20 December 2024](https://www.yugmarg.com/edition/2024/12/20/pages.pdf)
9. [The Avenue Mail, 18 March 2025](https://avenuemail.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/The-Avenue-Mail-March-18.pdf)
10. [Taapsee Pannu-Ishwak Singh starrer Gandhari finally gets a release date, Cinema Express](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/amp/story/ott/news/2026/Aug/21/taapsee-pannu-ishwak-singh-starrer-gandhari-finally-gets-a-release-date)
11. [Gandhari Movie Review, Bollywood Hungama](https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/movie/gandhari/critic-review/gandhari-movie-review/gandhari-is-a-below-average-revenge-drama/)
12. [Taapsee Pannu's 'Gandhari' makers reject plagiarism allegations, Public TV English](https://english.publictv.in/taapsee-pannus-gandhari-makers-reject-plagiarism-allegations/)
13. [Gandhari: तापसी पन्नू की 'गांधारी' पर लगा कॉपी करने का आरोप, TV9 Hindi](https://www.tv9hindi.com/entertainment/bollywood-news/gandhari-taapsee-pannu-copying-allegations-makers-call-claims-false-and-unverified-3889175.html)
14. [Gandhari | Official Trailer | Taapsee Pannu | Netflix India, YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cq58YGCO_2c)
15. [Gandhari गांधारी (2026), Moviewala](https://moviewala.live/hi/movies/gandhari)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Films and standalone screen works › Individual films by title and year › Indian films (individual works) › Hindi films of the 2020s › Hindi films of 2026*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 18, 2026; Oct 3, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 18, 2026; Oct 3, 2026; Oct 21, 2026; Oct 25, 2026; Nov 1, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
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License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license