The Indian film industry has undoubtedly given us movies that can only be termed as ‘gems’. From creating a captivating fictionalised world to narrating real-life tales, it continues to engage and entertain the masses. Among these, while some have received the one-time-watch status, there are others that remain evergreen. They’re the highest grossing films in India, with ardent fans streaming them even years after their initial releases. We may not agree with all of them, but the box office is proof of their immense success. Here’s taking a look at the highest grossing movies in India that the audience loves to watch, over and over. In fact – their release is known to have attracted throngs of moviegoers for weeks!
Highest Grossing Movies in India
1. Dangal
Sports biopics have been consistently attracting fanfare in India, leading to the making of more of them. One such fantastic story was told in Dangal, the 2016 release that revolved around the life of Mahavir Singh Phogat and his two daughters. Aamir Khan plays Mahavir Singh Phogat, a former Indian wrestler who fulfilled his dream of winning gold in the Commonwealth Games by coaching his daughters who are lovingly and professionally known as the Phogat sisters. Dangal got rave reviews from the audience for the plot as well as the acting, and tops the list of India’s top grossing movies.
2. Bahubali 2: The Conclusion
The question – Why did Kattappa kill Amarendra Baahubali? – plagued everyone’s mind after the release of this superhit movie’s first part in 2015. The Conclusion came out 2 years later, in 2017, and took the box office by storm. It finally answered the question we were all thinking out loud. In this part, Mahendra Baahubali, played by Prabhas, raises an army to defeat Bhallaladeva and release his mother from his captivity, before the film takes a very interesting twist! It starred some of the best south hero actors, although the magnificent VFX and the gripping story contributed even more to its massive success, leading it to become one of the highest grossing movies in India.
3. K.G.F: Chapter 2
One of the highest collection movies in India, K.G.F.: Chapter 2 was released in 2022 and is the sequel to K.G.F. that came out back in 2018. The two-part series follows and narrates the life of renown assassin Rocky, played by Yash, who, post establishing himself as a kingpin of the Kolar Gold Fields, has to retain his supremacy and reign over adversaries as well as government officials, all while he also comes to terms with his past. The movie is packed with action and drama, making it a favourite among moviegoers in India.
4. RRR
S.S. Rajamouli does it again with RRR, a 2022 film that attained a massive fan following and traction among cinema enthusiasts. The action drama is one of South India’s best marvels. The plot is set in the 1920s. Using CGI, the movie bends all laws of physics, thus giving viewers an awe-inspiring and often thrilling experience. It’s highly immersive, and the action sequences are not to be taken seriously. The movie is an international hit and has surpassed all expectations!
5. Secret Superstar
Musical dramas are usually responsible for attracting huge crowds, and that was also the case with Secret Superstar starring Aamir Khan. It has the highest box office collection in india to its credit. Secret Superstar makes you believe in the common man’s dream of making it big in the industry by following the story of Insia, who is an ambitious young girl dreaming of becoming a singer. But she faces a lot of opposition from her father. She remains undettered, though and strives to follow her passion by posting her songs on the Internet – anonymously. It can easily be termed a motivational Bollywood movie due to its message!
6. Bajrangi Bhaijaan
Salman Khan starrer Bajrangi Bhaijaan, one of the highest grossing movies in India aims to bridge inter-border and religious differences through gripping storytelling with unparalleled innocence. It follows the story of an Indian man with the most generous heart who takes a young and mute Pakistani girl, lost in a foreign land, back to her homeland in order to reunite her with her family. This – he does against all odds, no matter the hurdles that come his way. Rest assured, this one made everyone cry tears of joy! It remains among the most earning movie in India.
7. PK
A lot of times, movies try to shed new light on societal problems, and this often stems from organized religion and blind belief. One such movie is PK, starring Anushka Sharma and Aamir Khan in rather eccentric roles. The superhit comedy-drama revolves around an innocent alien who lands on Earth but loses his communication device, without which he is undoubtedly lost. Then, he meets Jaggu, who is a heartbroken reporter, and attempts to find his device. As the movie progresses, he raises many thought-provoking questions, making the cut as the most earned movie in India.
8. 2.0
Superstar Rajnikanth starrer 2.0 is a sci-fi action thriller directed by S. Shankar. It also features Akshay Kumar as the villain. After mobiles start flying out of the hands of the people in Chennai – mysteriously – the trusted robot Chitti, played by Rajnikanth, is summoned by Dr Vaseegaran, also played by Rajnikanth. The ultimate goal is to defeat the bird-shaped supernatural entity called Pakshi Rajan, played by Akshay Kumar. 2.0 also stars South actress Amy Jackson.
9. Sultan
Once again, a sports drama rules the list of highest grossing movies in india. Sultan features Salman Khan and was released in 2016. In it, the Bollywood star is seen playing pro-wrestler who takes to the ring again after a hiatus, and attempts, against all odds, to reinstate his fame and professional standing. It is the tale of a classic underdog who rises from the ashes again and gives his passion his all. Sultan also stars Anushka Sharma and Randeep Hooda in significant roles.
10. Baahubali: The Beginning
The first of the two-part movie series, Baahubali: The Beginning is where the tale of Mahishmati saw the light of day. It starts with a guy named Shivudu, played by Prabhas, who falls in love with a young warrior woman. Although, while he is trying to woo and win her heart, he learns about his family’s conflict-ridden past and discovers his true legacy instead before setting out to claim it. Baahubali is still an Indian highest collection movie.
11. Dhoom 3
While Dhoom 1 and Dhoom 2 were both massive box office successes, Dhoom 3 takes the cake for some of the best action sequences! Starring Aamir Khan, Abhishek Bachchan, Uday Chopra, Katrina Kaif and Jackie Shroff as the big-ticket names, Dhoom 3 is about a regular circus entertainer cum master thief who robs a corrupt bank in Chicago to avenge his father’s death. The Bollywood Hindi action movie is a must-watch!
12. Sanju
Ranbir Kapoor plays renown Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt in this biopic on his life. The 2018 film won critical acclaim for the acting and the screenplay, both of which were centred around Dutt’s personal vices, legacy as an actor, his accomplishments and failures, even. It was not just appreciated by his fans but also by industry critics, making it one of the highest grossing movies in India.
13. Padmaavat
A retelling of Queen Padmavati’s tale, Padmaavat is a 2018 film starring Shahid Kapoor and Deepika Padukone, as well as Ranveer Singh but in a negative role. Happily married to a Rajput ruler, the queen’s life was turned upside down by the ruthless sultan, Allaudin Khilji, who could go to any lengths to steal her away as she was known to be the most beautiful of all, across kingdoms. Padmaavat is known to have top box office collection in india.
14. Tiger Zinda Hai
Released in 2017, Tiger Zinda Hai stars Katrina Kaif and Salman Khan in lead roles. Packed with action and drama, it circles around a RAW secret who is drawn out of hiding when a group of Indian and Pakistani nurses become hostages in Iraq for a terrorist organization. It was directed by Ali Abbas Zafar and seamlessly joins forces with other films to answer – which is highest grossing movies in india.
15. War
Indian cinema-goers seem to be obsessed with secret-agent storylines. After Tiger Zinda Hai, War is another movie with a similar plot though obviously, different settings. Starring Hrithik Roshan and Tiger Shroff, War traces the story of Kabir, a secret agent, who goes rogue after a mission goes awry. But to track him down, his boss sends Khalid, another agent and his student, to track him down. War is among the highest grossing movies in India.
16. 3 Idiots
3 Idiots is a rollercoaster of a movie that leans more towards Bollywood comedy movies, but with a message you just can’t miss. Featuring a star cast that includes Aamir Khan, Kareena Kapoor, R Madhavan and Shaman Joshi, the movie is sheer brilliance and makes you laugh out loud while also think deeply on the mindset that plagues the education system of India.
17. Andhadhun
A ingenious plot and even better acting, Andhadhun is among Bollywood mystery movies that has an open-ending that leaves you unravelled in the best of ways! With Ayushmann Khurrana, Radhika Apte and Tabu in the lead, you know the film is going to be a hit. It revolves around Akash, a pretend visually-impaired piano player who unwittingly finds himself entangled in a slew of problems after witnessing the murder of a former film actor in one of the highest grossing movies in India.
18. Saaho
Among thriller movies in Bollywood, Saaho definitely tops the list. Take our word for it, or trust the box office numbers. Saaho revolves around an undercover agent along with his partner who go after a thief who has stolen a whopping 2,000 crore rupees. As the story progresses, they realise that the case is closely and directly linked to a crime lord’s death and an emerging gang war.
19. Prem Ratan Dhan Payo
Released in 2015, Prem Ratan Dhan Payo is among the Romantic movies Bollywood to have made the cut to this list. Featuring Salman Khan and Sonam Kapoor Ahuja, the movie has a typical love triangle storyline that will keep you hooked. Just before his half-brother Prince Yuvraj Vijay Singh is set to be crowned king, Prem, who looks just like him, replaces him right before the ceremony. Even Princess Maithili is engaged to Prince Vijay, she falls for Prem in this riot of a story.
20. Chennai Express
Last but not the least, Chennai Express answers the question of which movie is highest collection in india. Featuring superstar Shah Rukh Khan and alongside Deepika Padukone, it’s the funniest romantic slash comedy tale of North meets South. We’re also graced with some of the most picturesque spots in the south with a stunning aerial view. Chennai Express is a movie with a heavy influence of the south, with the actors delivering some of their most engaging performances. It is no doubt that it did so well in the box office!
With this, we’ve come to an end of our list of highest grossing movies in India. If you’ve got a weekend free, it’s a great chance to catch up with one of these spectacles of Indian cinema.
