Over a decade after they last set the box office on fire, one of Indian cinema’s most beloved romantic-comedy couples is officially gearing up for a grand return.
Kangana Ranaut and R Madhavan’s iconic franchise Tanu Weds Manu is officially returning for a third installment. Titled Tanu Weds Manu: The Next Chapter, the massive project was formally announced by Eros Innovation as part of their extensive strategy to revive blockbuster intellectual properties under the freshly minted Eros Universe banner.
Production for the highly anticipated film is slated to officially go on floors in 2026. While the studio has kept the precise shooting schedule under wraps, pre-production and script workshops are expected to keep the team busy through the remainder of this year before the cameras roll.
In a significant creative departure for the franchise, original helmer Aanand L Rai will not be returning to direct. Instead, the director’s chair has been handed to Mitakshara Kumar, who has garnered widespread acclaim for her visually spectacular and direct work on premium period dramas like The Empire and Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Heeramandi. The project will be mounted on a grand scale, co-produced by Rudraksh Jyoti Soma Limited.
The central narrative hook of Tanu Weds Manu 3 is already generating intense speculation across trade circles. In the 2015 blockbuster Tanu Weds Manu Returns, Kangana famously delivered a National Award-winning double role, portraying both the rebellious Tanu and the straight-talking Haryanvi athlete Kusum “Datto” Sangwan.
Industry insiders hint that The Next Chapter plans to push boundaries even further, with widespread rumors suggesting that Kangana might be essaying a demanding triple role this time around. However, official plot summaries and structural character arcs remain tightly guarded by the writers.
The announcement has already unlocked a massive wave of nostalgia among cinephiles. The franchise originally took root in 2011, establishing itself as a sleeper hit that redefined small-town romances in Bollywood before its 2015 sequel shattered box office records to enter the coveted ₹100-crore club.
While the principal duo is locked in, fans have taken to social media to demand the return of the franchise’s legendary supporting cast, including Deepak Dobriyal’s unforgettable Pappiji, Jimmy Shergill’s brooding Raja Awasthi, Swara Bhasker, and Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub. A full ensemble cast reveal and a definitive theatrical release window are expected from Eros in the coming months.