Mumbai: As 2025 heads into its final stretch, Indian cinema has delivered some of its biggest box office spectacles in recent memory. From mythological folklore and historical epics to mass action entertainers and romantic dramas, the year has seen films across languages draw massive footfalls and record-breaking revenues. Based on IMDb data and box office figures, here is a look at the top five highest-grossing Indian films of 2025 so far, ranked by their worldwide collections and theatrical impact.
1. Kantara: A Legend – Chapter 1
Language: Kannada
Director: Rishab Shetty
Budget: ₹130 crore
Worldwide Gross: ₹853.4 crore
Domestic Net Collection: ₹622.5 crore
Leading the box office charts is Kantara: A Legend – Chapter 1, a prequel that explores the origins of Kaadubettu Shiva during the Kadamba dynasty era. Set against dense forests and steeped in forgotten folklore, the film delves into the untamed wilderness that shaped the character’s destiny.
Directed by and starring Rishab Shetty, the film expanded the universe established in Kantara and struck a powerful chord with audiences. Its extraordinary domestic performance made it an industry hit in Karnataka, while its pan-Indian appeal pushed it to the highest worldwide gross of the year so far.
2. Chhaava
Language: Hindi
Director: Laxman Utekar
Budget: ₹150 crore
Worldwide Gross: ₹808.7 crore
Domestic Net Collection: ₹604.1 crore
Chhaava emerged as one of 2025’s most successful historical dramas. The film follows warrior-king Sambhaji Maharaj as he takes on the Mughal forces led by Aurangzeb after the death of his father, determined to protect the Maratha Empire.
Starring Vicky Kaushal, Akshaye Khanna and Rashmika Mandanna, the film was praised for its scale, performances and emotional weight. Its strong domestic collections and consistent overseas performance firmly established Chhaava as one of the year’s biggest blockbusters.
3. Saiyaara
Language: Hindi
Director: Mohit Suri
Budget: ₹50 crore
Worldwide Gross: ₹575.8 crore
Domestic Net Collection: ₹334.2 crore
Romantic drama Saiyaara proved that mid-budget films can still deliver massive returns when they connect with audiences. Directed by Mohit Suri, the film tells the story of Vaani and Krish as they navigate love, emotional baggage and personal insecurities in search of meaning.
Starring Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda, Saiyaara relied heavily on music and emotional storytelling — a combination that worked in its favour. With a modest budget and strong box office traction, the film became one of the most profitable releases of the year.
4. Coolie
Language: Tamil
Director: Lokesh Kanagaraj
Budget: ₹350 crore
Worldwide Gross: ₹516.7 crore
Worldwide Share: ₹260.3 crore
Pre-release Business: ₹305 crore
Despite massive expectations, Coolie delivered a mixed box office outcome. Directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj and starring Rajinikanth, Nagarjuna Akkineni and Soubin Shahir, the film traces a man’s lifelong quest for vengeance rooted in past wrongs.
While the film opened strong due to its star cast and scale, its high budget and pre-release business meant that theatrical returns fell short of blockbuster status. Nevertheless, Coolie still ranks among the top grossers of 2025 in absolute numbers.
5. Dhurandhar
Language: Hindi
Director: Aditya Dhar
Budget: ₹250 crore
Worldwide Gross: ₹374.3 crore
Domestic Net Collection: ₹242.1 crore
Rounding off the top five is Dhurandhar, a sprawling crime saga inspired by true events and set against the backdrop of Indian patriotism. Directed by Aditya Dhar, the film stars Ranveer Singh alongside Sanjay Dutt and Akshaye Khanna.
With its blend of underworld drama, espionage, action and Shakespearean betrayal, Dhurandhar has maintained strong momentum at the box office. As the film continues its theatrical run, its final verdict remains awaited, though its current numbers already place it among the year’s biggest earners.
A Year Dominated by Scale and Storytelling
The 2025 box office reflects a clear trend — audiences have embraced ambitious storytelling across genres and languages. From rooted folklore (Kantara) and historical resistance (Chhaava) to emotional romance (Saiyaara) and gritty crime sagas (Dhurandhar), the year has offered cinematic variety on a grand scale.
With several films still running and more releases lined up, 2025 is shaping up to be one of the strongest years for Indian cinema in terms of box office performance and audience engagement.
