Indian cinema in 2025: Hits, misses & surprises

A rollercoaster year for Indian cinema

In 2025, Indian cinema has delivered a mix of spectacular blockbusters and surprising flops, reshaping audience expectations and proving that scale, storytelling, and star power alone no longer guarantee success.

Indian cinema in 2025 saw both strong successes and major disappointments. Some films performed far better than expected, while others, despite big stars and large budgets, failed to attract audiences. Viewers continued to change their watching habits, influenced by streaming platforms, social media, and higher ticket prices. As a result, 2025 became an important year for the film industry, forcing it to rethink what truly brings audiences back to theatres.

The story of 2025’s box office cannot be told without beginning at the top. At the close of the year, Dhurandhar emerged as an undeniable juggernaut a film whose scale, ensemble cast and gritty ambition combined to create one of the most successful Indian releases of the year.

Directed by Aditya Dhar and released on December 5, Dhurandhar features Ranveer Singh in a rare adult-rated action and espionage film that went on to exceed all box-office expectations. The film also stars Akshaye Khanna, Sanjay Dutt, R Madhavan, Arjun Rampal, Sara Arjun, and Rakesh Bedi, forming a strong ensemble cast that added depth to its intense narrative. Audiences and critics praised the film for its striking visuals, detailed world-building, and high-energy action scenes. Strong word-of-mouth helped the film sustain its theatrical run across languages and regions. As of late December 2025, Dhurandhar has collected over INR 11 billion worldwide, making it the highest-grossing Indian film of 2025. Its bold storytelling and large-scale production turned it into one of the most important theatrical releases of the year.

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But Dhurandhar was not alone at the summit.

A surprise hit that defied industry assumptions about youth romance, Saiyaara directed by Mohit Suri and released on July 18 became the highest-grossing romantic film of all time in India. The musical drama introduced audiences to Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda, whose chemistry and soulful soundtrack powered the film to a massive worldwide tally that placed it among the year’s truly big earners.

The film earned over INR 5.7 billion worldwide, making it one of the year’s most profitable projects. Songs from the film dominated streaming charts, while short clips flooded social media platforms, turning Saiyaara into a cultural mood rather than just a movie.

Equally notable was Chhaava, a sweeping historical drama directed by Laxman Utekar and headlined by Vicky Kaushal. Released in February, Chhaava charted the life of a Maratha warrior with epic production design and stirring performances. With oversea gross  INR 8 billion, and in India INR 6 billion it became one of the biggest Bollywood films of the year, anchoring theatre circuits from urban centres to small town India.

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Another noteworthy release in 2025 was Sitaare Zameen Par, directed by R S Prasanna and starring Aamir Khan alongside Genelia D’Souza. Released theatrically in June, the film functioned as a spiritual successor to Khan’s beloved Taare Zameen Par and blended family drama with sports‑inspired themes. While not reaching the stratospheric heights of the year’s biggest blockbusters, it grossed around INR 1.66 billion in India. Its heartfelt messaging and inclusive story sparked broad conversation, making it a cultural touchstone for 2025 even as industry observers debated how its emotional ambitions translated to theatrical returns.

Across South Indian industries, Kantara: Chapter 1, a mythological action drama directed by and starring Rishab Shetty stood out. Released on  October 2, the film not only dominated regional screens but evolved into a pan-India blockbuster. The total collection of this movie worldwide and in India was INR 1.1 billion and INR 4.7 billion.

Beyond these headline successes, Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat,  a Diwali release directed by Milap Zaveri and starring Harshvardhan Rane and Sonam Bajwa  demonstrated that traditional romantic dramas, when packaged with compelling music and festive timing, could still drive strong commercial returns, crossing the INR 1.1 billion.

These films, among others, not only earned solid numbers but shaped public conversation, proving that Indian cinema remains a potent blend of spectacle and sentiment.

The misses: When big budgets didn’t translate to big numbers

But 2025 was not without its share of high-profile disappointments. Some films that generated buzz failed to convert that anticipation into box-office success, reminding filmmakers that star power and spectacle are no guarantee of commercial viability.

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Azaad released in January, directed by Abhishek Kapoor and starring Ajay Devgn alongside Diana Penty  was envisioned as a sweeping period drama. Instead, it faltered with audiences and critics alike, closing its theatrical run with a global total of barely INR 60 million far short of its production ambitions. Reviewers cited uneven pacing and a lack of emotional engagement as key weaknesses in an otherwise grand setup.

September brought Baaghi 4, directed by A Harsha and headlined by Tiger Shroff, Sanjay Dutt and Harnaaz Sandhu. Despite its pedigree and action set pieces, the fourth instalment in the franchise was widely panned for its thin screenplay and over-reliance on spectacle. The film grossed around INR 470 million worldwide, making it the series’ lowest-earning entry and a cautionary tale about franchise fatigue.

Another high-profile underperformer was Kis Kisko Pyaar Karoon 2, directed by Anukalp Goswami, a December release starring Kapil Sharma and Ayesha Khan. Released amid stiff competition from Dhurandhar and the Hollywood juggernaut Avatar: Fire and Ash, the sequel collected only marginal revenue, especially when measured against the first Kis Kisko Pyaar Karoon (2015), which was hit. But the contrast underscored the growing challenges faced by mid-budget Hindi comedies in a crowded end-of-year theatrical slate, the total collection was INR 180 million.

Perhaps the most discussed failure was Emergency, directed by and starring Kangana Ranaut, released in September. Despite its politically charged subject and heavy pre-release publicity, the film struggled to draw audiences, closing with over INR 217 million worldwide, far below expectations.

Similarly, Dhadak 2, directed by Shazia Iqbal and starring Siddhant Chaturvedi and Triptii Dimri, failed to recreate the impact of its predecessor. Released in August, the film collected around INR 330 million, weighed down by unfavourable comparisons and muted word-of-mouth.