Year Ender 2025: 2025 painted a harsh picture for the film industry at the box office. Big-budget films from top stars stumbled. Salman Khan’s Sikandar barely earned Rs 180 crore on a Rs 200-plus crore budget. Shahid Kapoor’s Deva flopped with just Rs 33 crore, and Kangana Ranaut’s Emergency tanked at Rs 16 crore. Across the year, more than 30 high-profile releases failed to connect, leaving audiences disappointed and producers counting losses.
Yet, amid this gloom, a few films rose like phoenixes. Titles like Chhaava, Saiyaara, Kantara Chapter 1, Mahavatar Narsimha, Lokah Chapter 1 and Dhurndhar defied expectations. Together, these surprise blockbusters raked in over Rs 2,800 crore. They proved that strong stories, cultural resonance and social media buzz could still win big.
In this year ender 2025 article, let’s have a look at what worked for these surprise blockbusters amid a sea of flops.
Year Ender 2025: What Worked For Surprise Blockbusters Like Chhaava And Saiyaara
Chhaava kicked off 2025 with a bang. Vicky Kaushal’s portrayal of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj captivated audiences, earning Rs 615–807 crore net in India alone. Director Laxman Utekar combined raw action with AR Rahman’s haunting score, tapping into pan-India pride for Maratha history. Despite a post-Pushpa 2 slump, the film’s grandeur and word-of-mouth made it impossible to ignore.
Saiyaara (starring Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda) became another blockbuster. Its romantic vibe, touching music and fresh chemistry did wonder. It outperformed some established franchises and proved fresh faces could still draw crowds.
How Mahavatar Narsimha, Lokah, Kantara Prequel And Dhurandhar Followed
Animated film Mahavatar Narsimha (with a modest Rs 40 crore budget) earned Rs 326 crore worldwide. Ashwin Kumar’s devotional spectacle combined stunning VFX with multilingual appeal, drawing families and temple circuits to cinemas.
Meanwhile, Malayalam hit Lokah Chapter 1- Chandra grossed Rs 147 crore on just Rs 30 crore investment, proving that regional myths can achieve national success.
Kantara Chapter 1 became a cultural phenomenon. Rishab Shetty’s folklore epic earned Rs 735 crore, igniting Kannada pride and pan-India frenzy. Authentic storytelling and Shetty’s dual role as writer-director-star transformed rural rituals into cinematic gold.
December brought Dhurandhar, led by stars like Ranveer Singh and Akshaye Khanna. His viral “Fa9la” dance, strong story and sharp comeback performances drove Rs 300 crore in just 10 days.
As we wrap up this year ender 2025 article, let us tell you, these hits shared key traits: grounded narratives, cultural or historical roots and more. Multilingual releases expanded reach, while modest budgets maximised profits.
