Top Highest Grossing Films at the Indian Box Office: ‘Kalki 2898 AD’ Surpasses ‘Animal’
The Indian film industry continues to thrive, with new releases constantly vying for top positions at the box office. One such film, ‘Kalki 2898 AD’, starring Prabhas, has made significant strides, recently overtaking ‘Animal’ to become the fifth highest-grossing film in India.
‘Kalki 2898 AD’: A Box Office Phenomenon
In its third week, ‘Kalki 2898 AD’ maintained a strong performance, grossing Rs. 5 crore on its third Monday. This brings its total Indian box office gross to Rs. 667 crore. The film’s impressive hold amidst new releases, such as ‘Indian 2’ and ‘Sarfira’, which initially reduced its showcasing, highlights its popularity. As these new films underperformed, ‘Kalki 2898 AD’ regained lost ground, bolstering its position.
Aiming for Rs. 1000 Crore
The sustained success of ‘Kalki 2898 AD’ in its third week suggests it has a realistic shot at reaching the Rs. 700 crore milestone. However, despite its success, it seems unlikely to climb higher than the fifth spot, with ‘Jawan’ firmly in fourth place.
The Top Grossers
The current rankings of the highest-grossing films at the Indian box office are as follows:
- Baahubali: The Conclusion (2017) – Rs. 1347 crore
- KGF Chapter 2 (2022) – Rs. 987 crore
- RRR (2022) – Rs. 894 crore
- Jawan (2023) – Rs. 754 crore
- Kalki 2898 AD (2024) – Rs. 667 crore
Historical Context: Box Office Giants
‘Baahubali: The Conclusion’ holds a commanding lead, grossing over Rs. 350 crore more than its nearest rival. This film has maintained its top position for over 2,600 days, surpassing the previous record holders ‘Hum Aapke Hain Kaun’ and ‘Gadar’, each of which held the record for nearly 2,400 days. ‘Sholay’ remains the longest-reigning box office champion, holding the title for over 7,000 days from 1975 to 1995. Prior to ‘Sholay’, ‘Mughal-e-Azam’ likely held the record for over 4,000 days.
Future Contenders
The dominance of ‘Baahubali 2’ may soon be challenged by the upcoming ‘Pushpa 2’. If ‘Pushpa 2’ succeeds, it could end ‘Baahubali 2’s’ reign at approximately 2,800 days. If not, ‘Baahubali 2’ might surpass the 3,000-day mark, continuing its unprecedented success.
Comprehensive List of Top-Grossing Indian Films
Indian cinema has a rich history of producing high-grossing films across various languages. Here’s a closer look at some of the top performers worldwide:
- Dangal (2016) – ₹2,023.81 crore
- Baahubali 2: The Conclusion (2017) – ₹1,810.595 crore
- RRR (2022) – ₹1,387.26 crore
- KGF: Chapter 2 (2022) – ₹1,200–1,250 crore
- Jawan (2023) – ₹1,148.32 crore
- Pathaan (2023) – ₹1,050.3 crore
- Kalki 2898 AD (2024) – ₹1,000 crore
- Bajrangi Bhaijaan (2015) – ₹918.18–969.06 crore
- Animal (2023) – ₹917.82 crore
- Secret Superstar (2017) – ₹875.78–905.7 crore
Box Office Trends and Market Dynamics
Indian films have been popular globally since the early 20th century. By 2003, Indian films were being screened in over 90 countries. The early 21st century saw a significant increase in box office collections due to higher ticket prices, more theaters, and more film prints. In 2022, the Hindi film industry accounted for 33% of box office revenue, followed by Telugu (20%) and Tamil (13%) cinemas.
Regional Cinema Contributions
Other prominent languages in the Indian film industry include Kannada (8%) and Malayalam (6%), with Bengali, Marathi, Odia, Punjabi, Gujarati, and Bhojpuri also making notable contributions. By 2021, Telugu cinema had become the largest film industry in India in terms of box office revenue.
Highest-Grossing Films by Language
The diversity of Indian cinema is evident in the highest-grossing films across different languages:
- Kannada: ‘KGF: Chapter 2’ leads with ₹1,200–1,250 crore.
- Tamil: ‘Baahubali 2’ tops the list with ₹1,810.595 crore.
- Malayalam: ‘Manjummel Boys’ grossed ₹242.3 crore.
- Marathi: ‘Sairat’ grossed ₹110 crore.
- Punjabi: ‘Carry on Jatta 3’ grossed ₹102.69 crore.
- Gujarati: ‘Chaal Jeevi Laiye!’ grossed ₹52.14 crore.
- Assamese: ‘Sri Raghupati’ grossed ₹13.81 crore.
- Bengali: ‘Amazon Obhijaan’ grossed ₹48.63 crore.
- Bhojpuri: ‘Sasura Bada Paisawala’ grossed ₹35 crore.
- Odia: ‘Balunga Toka’ grossed ₹4 crore.
Conclusion
The Indian film industry remains dynamic and competitive, with ‘Kalki 2898 AD’ being the latest example of a film achieving remarkable box office success. As the industry evolves, new films will continue to break records and set new benchmarks, reflecting the diverse and vibrant nature of Indian cinema.
