Bollywood
Mumbai, August 31 - 2025 has turned into a good year so far for Indian films in the overseas market, with movies from the Bollywood, Tamil, Telugu, and Malayalam industries making a splash at the global box office. From grand romantic sagas to star-powered action blockbusters, audiences across the world have embraced Indian cinema like never before.
Sun Pictures' gangster action drama, Coolie, starring superstar Rajinikanth, was released on August 14, and within no time, it has stormed to the top spot among the biggest Indian grossers at the overseas box office. Directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj, the film is yet to complete its first weekend, already grossing over 150 crores overseas in 5 days.
Yash Raj Films' romantic drama, Saiyaara, starring debutante Ahaan Pandey and Aneet Padda, became a global sensation. This has been the biggest success story of Indian cinema this year. Directed by Mohit Suri, Saiyaara blended soulful music, passionate storytelling, and stunning visuals, making it a cross-cultural hit. The film's theme connected not only with Indian audiences but across the world, making it the biggest Indian blockbuster in the international market.
The Malayalam megahit, Empuraan, starring Mohanlal and directed by Prithviraj Sukumaran, was hit by controversy in India, but that didn't stop it from making a big hit at the box office, not just in India but also internationally. It continued the Lucifer saga with high-octane political intrigue and action. The film’s international fan base, built from the first part, turned Empuraan into a global blockbuster.
Thudarum, one of the biggest Malayalam blockbusters in recent times, stunned the trade and went on to score big at the box office. The action thriller, starring Mohanlal, did wonders globally and became one of only three Malayalam titles to cross 200 crores worldwide, including close to 100 crores gross from overseas markets.
The historical epic, Chhaava, starring Vicky Kaushal as Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, impressed both domestic and global audiences and is currently the biggest Indian grosser worldwide with over 800 crores in collection. This Laxman Utekar's directorial's grand battle sequences, rich production design, and a patriotic storyline drove its stellar overseas run with close to 100 crores gross.
Housefull 5, Bollywood's favourite comedy franchise, returned bigger and zanier. Despite the disappointment of not living up to expectations, this Akshay Kumar-led film did decently at the box office and is so far among the top overseas grossers. The film's mixed slapstick humour, exotic locations, and star power captured the attention of family audiences abroad, especially in the Gulf and the UK.
Directed by Adhik Ravichandran, Good Bad Ugly marked a major comeback for superstar Ajith Kumar, after the big failure of Vidaamuyarchi. Ajith's vintage avatar in the movie was celebrated by the fans worldwide. It became the first film of the actor to hit 200 crores worldwide gross, including a good performance in overseas markets.
War 2, starring Hrithik Roshan and Jr. NTR, has underperformed at the box office, be it domestic or overseas. In the first 5 days, the film grossed approximately 63 crores internationally. The movie is directed by Ayan Mukerji and produced by Yash Raj Films.
After the failure of Laal Singh Chaddha, Aamir Khan returned to winning ways with Sitaare Zameen Par, a heartfelt comedy-drama that follows a suspended basketball coach who must serve community service by helping a team of players with disabilities prepare for a tournament. Just like Ajith Kumar, SZP proved to be a comeback movie for Aamir Khan by emerging as a box office hit in India and overseas.
Sikandar, one of the major letdowns of the year, this Salman Khan-led action drama failed to perform to expectations despite featuring among the top 10 biggest overseas grossers. Directed by a seasoned director like AR Murugadoss, Sikandar finished below 200 crores worldwide, while its overseas performance was also not good.
What Sikandar proved for Bollywood, Thug Life met the same fate for Kollywood. Kamal Haasan's much-awaited action-thriller, directed by Mani Ratnam, blended artful filmmaking with mass entertainment. The film's international premieres were major events, boosting its overseas revenue. However, it turned into a big disaster, failing to capitalise on the huge buzz.
Before scoring his biggest grosser with Good Bad Ugly, Ajith Kumar had a big setback with the action-drama Vidamuyarchi. It was among the biggest failures. With heavyweights like War 2 and Coolie yet to arrive, the overseas box office race of 2025 is far from over. But for now, Saiyaara sits at the top, proving that heartfelt romance can still rule the world stage in the age of action spectacles.
Stay tuned...
