In the Indian film industry, the concept of developing a cinematic universe is indeed flourishing. A film is no longer limited to a story fully compiled in a single installment, it often has successive parts that complete the narrative, keeping the audience hooked to see what unfolds next amd the connection between each other. While this has now become a trend, many different cinematic universes are currently in development or already functional. So, let’s look at 5 of the most exciting cinematic universes in the Indian film industry that we need to keep an eye on:
The Mahavatar Cinematic Universe
Bringing to life the different avatars of Lord Vishnu, the Mahavatar Cinematic Universe is now taking shape. It is a series of animated films that will present the epic stories of Lord Vishnu’s avatars in the most visually enthralling way. The posters of the first part, Mahavatar Narsimha, have already been revealed, and the film is set to release on 25th July 2025. The upcoming films in the universe include: Mahavatar Parshuram (2027), Mahavatar Raghunandan (2029), Mahavatar Dwarkadhish (2031), Mahavatar Gokulananda (2033), Mahavatar Kalki Part 1 (2035), Mahavatar Kalki Part 2 (2037)
Maddock Horror Comedy Universe
Created by Maddock Films, the Maddock Horror Comedy Universe is one of the most loved cinematic universes in the comedy-horror genre. It began with Stree and started to take shape with Bhediya, followed by Munjya, and continues with Stree 2. Each film features characters or references connecting to the others, creating a shared universe. While four parts have already been released, the upcoming films include: Thama (2025), Shakti Shalini (2025), Bhediya 2 (2026), Chamunda (2026), Stree 3 (2027), Maha Munjya (2027), Pehla Mahayudh (2028), Doosra Mahayudh (2028)
YRF Spy Universe
The YRF Spy Universe is a high-octane franchise of spy-action films featuring fictional RAW agents. It kicked off with Ek Tha Tiger and expanded with blockbusters like Tiger Zinda Hai and WAR, initially released as standalone films. The concept of a shared universe was solidified with the success of Pathaan. Upcoming films in this universe include: WAR 2 (2025), Alpha (2025).
Lokesh Cinematic Universe
Also known as the Lokiverse, the Lokesh Cinematic Universe (LCU) is created by director Lokesh Kanagaraj and is currently the highest-grossing Tamil film franchise. The universe centers around a conflict between law enforcement and vigilantes fighting powerful drug cartels in South India. The films released so far are: Kaithi (2019), Vikram (2022), Leo (2023). The next in line is Benz, the first LCU film not directed by Lokesh himself.
Prasanth Varma Cinematic Universe
The Prasanth Varma Cinematic Universe was launched with Hanu-Man, a massive commercial success that laid a strong foundation for its sequel, Jai Hanuman, which was announced during the film’s end credits. Marking the rise of a new-age Indian superhero universe rooted in mythology, this franchise aims to be one of the biggest superhero universes globally. Notably, Rishab Shetty has been announced to portray Hanuman in Jai Hanuman.
