Indian audiences will enjoy: Salman Khan says 7 Dogs is built for big screen

Salman Khan has described his international film 7 Dogs as a big-screen action spectacle. He said the project reflects Arab cinema's growing global ambition while bringing multiple film industries together.

In Short

• Salman Khan to headline international action film 7 Dogs
• Film unites talent from India, Egypt, Italy and US
• Action sequences designed by John Wick stunt team

Salman Khan is set to feature in the international action film 7 Dogs, a cross-cultural project that brings together actors and filmmakers from India, Egypt, Italy and the US. Speaking exclusively to Variety India, Khan said the film’s scale, action and international setting were among the aspects that drew him to the project, while its connection to the growing ambitions of Arab cinema made the experience particularly interesting for him.

For Khan, the film’s appeal lies partly in its theatrical scale. He described 7 Dogs as a project designed to be experienced on the big screen, with its action sequences and expansive world forming a key part of its identity.

“7 Dogs is a big-screen film in every sense. The scale, the action, the world they’ve created, it’s all very grand. Turki (Turki Alalshikh, co-writer) and the team have backed it on a huge scale, and Adil and Bilall (Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah, directors) have brought their experience of making international action films into it," Khan said.

The film also gave Khan an opportunity to work across multiple film industries, something he found particularly exciting. He said he was drawn to the growing ambition of Arab cinema and its efforts to reach international audiences while retaining its distinct identity. For Khan, being part of a project that brings together talent from different countries and cinematic cultures was equally rewarding.

He believes that international character could also appeal to Indian audiences, particularly because of the film's scale, action and theatrical experience. “I think Indian audiences will enjoy it because it’s fresh, it’s entertaining, and it’s the kind of film you want to experience in a theatre. It has a truly international feel, and I’m happy to have been a part of it," Khan said.

The film’s action has been developed with the involvement of 87Eleven, the action and stunt company associated with the John Wick franchise. Veteran stunt designer Stephen Dunlevy, whose credits include Mad Max: Fury Road and John Wick, is leading the film’s action and stunt design.

Directed by Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah, 7 Dogs is scheduled to release in India in Hindi and English on August 21, 2026. The film stars Egyptian actors Karim Abdel-Aziz and Ahmed Ezz, alongside Monica Bellucci, Giancarlo Esposito and Sanjay Dutt. The ensemble also features Tara Emad, Nasser Al-Qasabi and Max Huang, among others.

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