Key facts
- List covers 10 underrated Hindi films of 2026 beyond Dhurandhar and Border
- Curated by The Indian Express as a critical corrective to blockbuster-dominated coverage
- Highlights smaller productions that received limited mainstream attention
- Reflects broader debate about formula vs. originality in Bollywood
Hindi cinema in 2026 has been dominated in public conversation by blockbusters like Dhurandhar and Border, but a new editorial from The Indian Express argues that the year's most interesting work has often happened in the films receiving the least attention.
The publication's list of ten underrated Hindi films that have defined 2026 so far functions as both a critical corrective and a practical guide for audiences who feel the mainstream discourse has narrowed around a handful of franchise entries and star-driven spectacles. By naming specific films beyond the marquee titles, the piece makes the case that the ecosystem of Hindi cinema remains varied and alive with storytelling that doesn't always make it to the top of the box-office charts or the front pages of entertainment coverage.
The exercise is particularly timely in a year when the industry has been grappling with questions of formula versus originality, and whether the commercial pressure towards sequels and known intellectual properties is crowding out fresh voices. The films highlighted in the list represent a cross-section of genres, budgets, and sensibilities that together paint a more complete picture of where Hindi cinema actually is in 2026.
For regular cinema-goers, the list offers a useful entry point into films that may have had limited theatrical runs or modest OTT promotion, but which critics argue deserve a broader audience. In an era of content abundance, curation of this kind plays an increasingly important role in connecting viewers with work that might otherwise slip past them.