Mumbai: The much-awaited fifth instalment of the popular Golmaal franchise, Golmaal 5, is set to arrive in cinemas on January 8, 2027. The release date was announced over the weekend along with an entertaining motion poster featuring the principal cast, giving fans a glimpse of what is in store from Rohit Shetty’s next comedy entertainer.

Unlike several previous films in the franchise, Golmaal 5 will not have the advantage of a major festival holiday at the time of its release. Golmaal Returns (2008), Golmaal 3 (2010) and Golmaal Again (2017) all arrived during Diwali and benefited from the festive period. The first Golmaal, released in 2006, was also released outside the Diwali window.

However, the January 8 release date is understood to have been selected after considering several factors, with the Gujarat market playing a significant role in the strategy.

Gujarat holiday factor behind January release

According to a trade source cited by Bollywood Hungama, Rohit Shetty had been considering a January release for Golmaal 5 for several months. The makers are reportedly banking on audiences returning to cinemas after the major December releases and looking for a new mainstream entertainer in January.

Another important factor is the strong theatrical performance of Rohit Shetty’s films in Gujarat. The state is expected to provide the film with an additional boost during its second week, when Makar Sankranti falls on Thursday, January 14.

January 15 is also expected to provide an extended holiday-like period, potentially giving Golmaal 5 an opportunity to record strong collections in Gujarat and the Gujarat/Saurashtra circuit.

The trade source said the makers had also considered January 14 as a possible release date, partly because of the Makar Sankranti holiday. However, the January 8 date gives the film a longer window before the arrival of Love & War, which is scheduled for January 21, 2027.

Rohit Shetty’s strong Gujarat track record

Rohit Shetty’s association with the Gujarat market has been particularly notable over the years. One of the early examples cited in the report is Singham (2011), starring Ajay Devgn.

Despite the film carrying a strong Marathi flavour, it reportedly received an enthusiastic response in Gujarat. Bollywood Hungama had earlier reported a standing ovation for the film at a cineplex in Ahmedabad after a show.

The Gujarat response became even more significant with Golmaal Again in 2017. The film reportedly set strong records in major centres including Ahmedabad, Surat and Rajkot.

According to the trade data cited by the publication, Golmaal Again was among only four films in 2017 to cross the Rs 30 crore mark in the Gujarat/Saurashtra circuit. The other three films were Baahubali 2, Raees and Tiger Zinda Hai.

Sooryavanshi also benefited from Gujarat response

Another example highlighted in the report is Sooryavanshi, which released in 2021 amid restrictions imposed on cinemas during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Although theatres were operating with 50 per cent occupancy restrictions at the time, the Akshay Kumar-led action film recorded a strong opening across India. Its performance in Gujarat was particularly notable, with the film reportedly surpassing the lifetime collections of earlier hits such as Simmba, Kabir Singh and Dhoom 3 in the Gujarat/Saurashtra circuit within six days.

The performance of Shetty’s films in the region is therefore understood to have influenced the planning around Golmaal 5.

Golmaal 5 gets a January 8 release

The fifth Golmaal film is expected to bring back the franchise’s familiar ensemble and comic setting, with the makers unveiling a motion poster alongside the release-date announcement.

The January 8, 2027 date gives Golmaal 5 two weekends before Love & War arrives on January 21. The makers are also expected to benefit from the Makar Sankranti period in Gujarat during the film’s second week.

With the franchise having a long-standing theatrical following and Rohit Shetty’s films traditionally performing strongly in Gujarat, the region is expected to be an important market for the film when it opens next year.

Release details

Golmaal 5 is scheduled to release in cinemas worldwide on January 8, 2027. The film is directed by Rohit Shetty and is part of the long-running Golmaal comedy franchise.