This document provides information about highest-grossing Bollywood films in India and worldwide. It discusses the growth of the Bollywood film industry since its beginnings in 1913. It lists the top highest-grossing Bollywood films worldwide and in India by net earnings. It also provides statistics on opening weekend and week box office records in India, as well as speed in reaching the 1 billion mark. The lists are extracted from Box Office India and provide data up until 2013.
1. List of highest-grossing Bollywood films
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (01-04-2013)
A still from Raja Harishchandra
The Hindi film industry, popularly christened as Bollywood, is one of the largest
film production centers in the world. The first feature film produced in India was
the Dadasaheb Phalke directed silent black-and-white film Raja Harishchandra,
which was released in 1913.[1] With time, the industry expanded and the number of
films produced kept increasing throughout the 1920s and 1930s. With expansion,
newer technologies were introduced including the use of sound and later
color. Alam Ara was India's first sound film, while Kisan Kanya was India's first
color film (incidentally, both are directed by the same person).[2] Introduction of
these technologies significantly shaped the style of Indian film-making, as the
advent of sound popularized musicals and song-and-dance sequences, making
them an integral part of Indian films. The industry did face problems during the
1930s because of independence movements and international wars.[3] The 1940s,
1950s and 1960s are often called the "golden years" of Bollywood. Films received
much critical appreciation all over the world. Several notable cinematic figures
such asGuru Dutt, Raj Kapoor and Bimal Roy were active during these years and
were instrumental in developing the industry. Mehboob Khan'sMother
India received universal acclaim and became India's first feature film to be
nominated for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film; till date, it is
one of only three Bollywood films (Salaam Bombay! and Lagaan) to share that
honour. Other Bollywood films from the era were screened in major film festivals
across the world, and some of them won major prizes as well. Parallel cinema also
2. emerged during this time, and gained momentum later on after a "hibernation"
phase.
Beginning with the 1940s, Bollywood films also saw major commercial success,
and several box office milestones were breached. As the popularity of cinema
spread, theatrical revenue kept increasing. The 1943 Gyan Mukherjee-
directed Kismet became the first Bollywood film to cross the 10 million mark.
Subsequently, more films breached the 10 million mark until Shree 420 breached
the 20 million mark for the first time. Beginning with the 1960s and particularly
1970s, Bollywood films achieved major commercial success more regularly, and
the revenue earned multiplied manifold throughout this period (a trend that
continued into the 1990s); Sholay (1975) earned triple the amount that the previous
record-holder Mughal-e-Azam (1960) earned, while Hum Aapke Hain
Koun..! (1994) more than quadrupled Sholay's record. Post the "dark phase" of the
1980s, business increased tremendously as is visible from the major success of
films like Hum Aapke Hain Koun..!, Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge and Gadar: Ek
Prem Katha.
Initially, the success of a film was determined by box office longevity than
revenue. However, due to increasing competition from television and the threat
of piracy, and later the advent of alternative media, longevity of films decreased
drastically and revenue became the focus of success. The revenue-earning pattern
has become increasingly front-loaded over the years, and now most films depend
only on first weekend/first week revenue to decide the fate of a film, a trend that
has received widespread criticism from industry experts. This trend was further
intensified after the multiplex boom in India following liberalisation, which caused
ticket prices and theatrical screening scope to increase. Since 2008, Bollywood
films have started breaching the 1 billion mark consistently; Ghajiniwas the first
Bollywood film to cross the mark. Considered a turning point in Bollywood,
multiple films have breached that mark since then. Beginning with the 2000s
(decade) and particularly 2010s, the release size and marketing efforts have
increased rapidly to the extent that films can achieve the 100 crore mark in a
single week, and the single-day full-capacity revenue can be 300 million.
Franchises have witnessed increasing popularity and several highly popular
franchises such as Dhoom and Golmaal saw great success at the box office;
additionally, each sequel has earned more than the previous film, making
franchises a lucrative business proposal.
3. Below is a set of lists which track the records for highest-grossing films in India
(by net figures, i.e. after tax reduction), highest opening days, highest opening
weeks and also other specific lists. Since box office figures in India are not tracked
strictly, figures from Box Office India are utilised; only extracts of lists are visible
here for some of the lists due to copyright concerns. The original list showed the
Top 30 films according to net revenue earned in India.
Background color indicates films playing on 31 March 2013 in theatres
around the world
4. Contents
1 Highest-grossing Bollywood films worldwide
2 Highest-grossing Bollywood films in India
3 Highest-grossing Bollywood films worldwide adjusted for inflation
4 Speed to the 1 billion Nett Mark in India
5 Top Lifetime Distributor Shares in India
6 Biggest opening gross
o 6.1 Opening day net gross
o 6.2 Single day net gross
o 6.3 Opening weekend net gross (First 3 Days of Release)
o 6.4 Opening week net gross (First 7 Days of Release)
o 6.5 Opening week Domestic Gross(First 7 Days of Release)
7 Highest second week domestic net. gross
8 Highest third week domestic net. gross
9 Highest Worldwide Opening Week Gross(First 7 days of release)
10 Highest Worldwide Opening Weekend Gross(First 3 days of release)
11 Highest-grossing films by month
12 Highest-grossing Bollywood films throughout history
13 See also
14 References
5. Highest-grossing Bollywood films worldwide
Aamir Khan, lead actor of 3 Idiots,which collected 2 billion (US$37 million) in
the domestic box-office
The biggest worldwide grosser in the history of Hindi film industry are listed
below. Two films have crossed 3 billion (US$55 million). Eight films have hit
the 2 billion (US$37 million) mark while 46 films have hit the 1 billion
(US$18 million) mark as of December 2012.[4][5] All figures are worldwide gross
figures.[6][7] Hum Aapke Hain Koun..!(Released in 1994) was the first Bollywood
film to cross 1 billion (US$18 million) worldwide.[8][9][10] Since the gross figures
are inflation unadjusted, films of 1970s to early 1990s didn't appear here.[11] Box
Office India gives worldwide figures for Hindi films/Hindi versions of Bollywood
films.[12] The worldwide gross figures are given here after adding dubbed Telugu
and Tamil version of Bollywood films.[13][14]
6. Highest-grossing Bollywood films worldwide (extract)
Worldwide
Rank Movie Year Studio(s) Director
Gross
Vinod Chopra 3.85 billion Rajkumar
1 3 Idiots 2009
Productions (US$71 million) Hirani
2.3 billion
3 Bodyguard 2011 Atul Agnihotri Siddique
(US$42 million)
My Name Is 2 billion
6 2010 Fox Star Studios Karan Johar
Khan (US$37 million)
Om Shanti Red Chillies 1.49 billion
15 2008 Farah Khan
Om Entertainment (US$27 million)
Singh Is Viacom 18 1.25 billion Anees
20 2008
Kinng Motion Pictures (US$23 million) Bazmee
Jodhaa UTV Motion 1.12 billion Ashutosh
30 2008
Akbar Pictures (US$21 million) Gowariker
7. Highest-grossing Bollywood films in India
Rajkumar Hirani, the director of 3 idiots, which is the Bollywood's highest-
grossing film
The following is a non-definitive list of the all-time highest-
grossing Bollywood films, by Real versus nominal value instead for inflation, it
tends to favor films in more recent years, with all but two of the films in the top 30
being released after 2000. Films released prior to 1994 do not appear in the list
because inflation, population size and ticket purchasing trends make direct
comparisons inaccurate. Figures are given in Indian rupees.[15]
Highest-grossing Bollywood films in India (extract)
Rank Movie Year Studio(s) Nett. Gross Director
Vinod Chopra 2,025,700,000 Rajkumar
1 3 Idiots 2009
Productions (US$36.95 million) Hirani
Red Chillies 1,147,800,000 Anubhav
6 Ra.One 2011
Entertainment (US$20.93 million) Sinha
Excel 1,062,200,000 Farhan
9 Don 2 2011
Entertainment (US$19.29 million) Akhtar
802,500,000 Sanjay
15 Dhoom 2 2006 Yash Raj Films
(US$14.56 million) Gadhvi
720,700,000
20 Housefull 2010 Eros International Sajid Khan
(US$13.1 million)
Singh is Viacom 18 684,800,000 Anees
25 2008
Kinng Motion Pictures (US$12.56 million) Bazmee
Taare Aamir Khan 624,800,000
30 2007 Aamir Khan
Zameen Par Productions (US$11.47 million)
8. Highest-grossing Bollywood films worldwide adjusted for inflation
The worldwide gross figures are inflation adjusted as of January 2010.[16][17] Gross
figures of films released before 1990 are not available according to inflation.
Highest-grossing Bollywood films worldwide adjusted for inflation (extract)
Worldwide
Rank Movie Year Studio(s) Director
Gross
Vinod Chopra 3.85 billion Rajkumar
1 3 Idiots 2009
Productions (US$71 million) Hirani
Gadar: Ek 2.92 billion
4 2001 Zee Telefilms Anil Sharma
Prem Katha (US$54 million)
1.9 billion Sanjay
9 Dhoom 2 2006 Yash Raj Films
(US$35 million) Gadhvi
Speed to the 1 billion Nett Mark in India
Main article: The Bollywood 100 Crore Club
Bollywood's 1 billion club includes Bollywood films earning 1 billion
(US$18 million) at the Indian box office, after excludingentertainment tax into
account.As of February 2013, 19 films have exceeded 1 billion (US$18 million)
in takings.[18]
Top Lifetime Distributor Shares in India
The distributor shares are what the Bollywood industry is interested in as they are
the bottom line in deciding the fate of a Bollywood film at the Indian boxoffice.
The distributor shares are nett gross minus theatre rentals. The theatre rentals vary.
Multiplexes give 50% in week one, 42.5% in week two, 37.5% in week three and
30% thereafter to the distributor. The figures are inflation
unadjusted.[19]Though Enthiran holds the Indian record for highest distributor share
with 1.25 billion,[20] Ek Tha Tiger holds the record in Bollywood films with
highest distributor share with 1.06 billion.[21][22][23][24][25][26][27]
9. Lifetime distributor share(extract)
Lifetime India
Rank Movie Year Studio(s)
Distributor share
1 Ek Tha Tiger 2012 Yash Raj Films 106,00,00,000
Vinod Chopra
2 3 Idiots 2009 99,02,00,000
Productions
Arbaaz Khan
3 Dabangg 2 2012 84,00,00,000
Productions
6 Agneepath 2012 Dharma Productions 65,53,00,000
Red Chillies
8 Ra.One 2011 63,61,00,000*
Entertainment
9 Ghajini 2008 T-Series 59,89,00,000
Gadar: Ek Prem
11 2001 Zee Telefilms 57,00,00,000
Katha
Biggest opening gross
Opening day nett gross
The following is an extract of the list of the top 10 Bollywood films, which have
had the biggest opening day gross.[28][29]
Biggest opening day gross (extract)
Opening Day Day of
Rank Movie Year Studio(s)
Net Gross Week
Ek Tha
1 2012 Yash Raj Films 31,23,00,000 Wednesday
Tiger
Reliance
3 Bodyguard 2011 20,66,00,000 Wednesday
Entertainment
Arbaaz Khan
4 Dabangg 2 2012 19,21,00,000 Friday
Productions
Excel
7 Don 2 2009 14,61,00,000 Friday
Entertainment
10. Single day nett gross
The following is an extract of the list of the top 10 Bollywood films, which have
had the biggest single day gross.[30]
Biggest single day gross (extract)
Single Day Day in Day of
Rank Movie Year Studio(s)
Net Gross Release Week
Ek Tha Yash Raj
1 2012 32,93,00,000[31] 1 Wednesday
Tiger Films
Dharma
3 Agneepath 2012 21,72,00,000 1 Thursday
Productions
Opening weekend nett gross (First 3 Days of Release)
The following is an extract of the list of the top 10 Bollywood films, which have
had the biggest opening weekend net gross.[32][33]
Biggest opening weekend gross (First 3 Days of Release) (extract)
Opening Weekend Net
Rank Movie Year Studio(s)
Gross
Arbaaz Khan
1 Dabangg 2 2012 63,60,00,000[34]
Productions
Ek Tha
2 2012 Yash Raj Films 57,85,00,000
Tiger
3 Bodyguard 2011 Reliance Entertainment 52,62,00,000
7 Don 2 2011 Excel Entertainment 46,33,00,000
Opening week nett gross (First 7 Days of Release)
The following is an extract of the list of the top 10 Bollywood films which have
had the biggest opening week gross.[35] This includes nett gross of non-Hindi
versions of Bollywood films also.
11. Biggest opening week nett. gross (First 7 Days of Release) (extract)
Opening Week Nett
Rank Movie Year Studio(s)
Gross
1 Ek Tha Tiger 2012 Yash Raj Films 133,22,00,000
Red Chillies
5 Ra.One 2011 91,09,00,000[36]
Entertainment
Rowdy
7 2012 UTV Motion Pictures 77,00,00,000
Rathore
Opening week Domestic Gross(First 7 Days of Release)
The following is an extract of the list of the top 10 Bollywood films which have
had the biggest opening week gross.[37] This includesentertainment tax in various
states in India.
Biggest opening week gross (extract)
Opening Week
Rank Movie Year Studio(s)
Domestic Gross
Ek Tha
1 2012 Yash Raj Films 180,00,00,000
Tiger
2 Dabangg 2010 Arbaaz Khan Productions 108,23,00,000
3 Golmaal 3 2010 Excel Entertainment 83,39,00,000
5 Ghajini 2008 T-Series 73,23,00,000
Nadiadwala Grandson
10 Raajneeti 2010 72,08,00,000
Entertainment
12. Highest second week domestic nett. gross
The following is an extract of the list of the top 10 Bollywood films, which have
had the biggest second week nett gross.[38][39][40][41][42][43][44][45]
Biggest second week domestic nett. gross (extract)
Second Week Nett.
Rank Movie Year Studio(s)
Gross
Vinod Chopra
1 3 Idiots 2009 56,24,00,000
Productions
Dabangg
2 2012 Arbaaz Khan Productions 37,00,00,000[45][46]
2
7 Ghajini 2008 T-Series 26,50,00,000
Highest third week domestic nett. gross
The following is an extract of the list of the top 15 Bollywood films, which have
had the biggest third week nett gross.[47][48][41][24]
Biggest third week domestic nett. gross (extract)
Third Week Nett.
Rank Movie Year Studio(s)
Gross
Vinod Chopra
1 3 Idiots 2009 30,30,00,000
Productions
Rowdy
4 2012 UTV Motion Pictures 15,15,00,000
Rathore
Arbaaz Khan
10 Dabangg 2 2012 11,50,00,000
Productions
13 Ek Tha Tiger 2012 Yash Raj Films 9,50,00,000
13. Highest Worldwide Opening Week Gross(First 7 days of release)
The following list is an extract of the list of the biggest worldwide debuts for
Bollywood films.All figures are worldwide gross figures. The currency conversion
is taken as rate on second Firday after first week(first 7 days only)[7][49]
Biggest worldwide opening week gross
Worldwide
Rank Movie Year Studio(s)
opening
1 Ek Tha Tiger 2012 Yash Raj Films 208,00,00,000
2 Bodyguard 2011 Reliance Entertainment 167,00,00,000
3 Ra.One 2011 Eros Entertainment 165,00,00,000
Jab Tak Hai
4 2011 Yash Raj Films 148,00,00,000
Jaan
Vinod Chopra
5 3 Idiots 2012 136,00,00,000
Productions
Highest Worldwide Opening Weekend Gross(First 3 days of release)
The following list is an extract of the list of the biggest worldwide debuts for
Bollywood films.All figures are worldwide gross figures. The currency conversion
is taken as rate on Monday after weekend(first 3 days).[50][51] This includes
extended weekend gross also(including entertainment tax in India).
Biggest worldwide opening weekend gross
Rank Movie Year Studio(s) Worldwide opening
1 Ek Tha Tiger 2012 Yash Raj Films 148,00,00,000
2 Ra.One 2011 Eros Entertainment 90,04,00,000
3 Bodyguard 2011 Reliance Entertainment 87,64,00,000
6 Housefull 2 2012 Eros Entertainment 69,62,00,000
10 Tees Maar Khan 2010 UTV Motion Pictures 58,93,00,000
14. Highest-grossing films by month
Main article: Bollywood highest grossing films by month
Highest-grossing Bollywood films, ordered by the month of the year in which they
released. For example, a film released on 31 March will be considered a March
release, while a film released on 1 April will be considered an April release;
despite the fact that for the former case, the major theatrical run of the film will be
outside the release month. The list is derived from a number of lists, box office
reports and statistics, all published by Box Office India. The base list from which
most of this list's ranking is derived from is availablehere, in the Lifetime grossers
list
Highest-grossing Bollywood films throughout history
The following is a list of Bollywood films, which have had the highest theatrical
nett grosses (up to that time), according to BoxOffice India.com.[citation needed]
List of highest-grossing Bollywood films throughout history
Record
Year Movie Studio(s) Nett Gross
Held
1943 Kismet 6 years Bombay Talkies 1,00,00,000
1949 Barsaat 2 years R. K. Films 1,10,00,000
1951 Awaara 1-year R.K. Films 1,25,00,000
1952 Aan 3 years Mehboob Khan 1,50,00,000
1955 Shree 420 2 years R.K. Films 2,00,00,000
1957 Mother India 3 years Mehboob Khan 4,00,00,000
1960 Mughal-e-Azam 15 years Sterling Investment 5,50,00,000
1975 Sholay 19 years G. P. Sippy 65,00,00,000
Hum Aapke Hain
1994 7 years Rajshri Productions 69,75,00,000
Koun..!
Gadar: Ek Prem
2001 5 years Zee Telefilms 75,50,00,000
Katha
15. List of highest-grossing Bollywood films throughout history
Record
Year Movie Studio(s) Nett Gross
Held
2006 Dhoom 2 2 years Yash Raj Films 80,25,00,000
Reliance Entertainment
2008 Ghajini 1-year
Geetha Arts 114,67,00,000
Current Vinod Chopra
2009 3 Idiots 202,57,00,000
holder Productions