The first half of 2025 has seen a decisive resurgence at the Hindi box office. Audiences returned in numbers as six Hindi films emerged as solid performers—three of which, Chhaava, Raid 2, and Sitaare Zameen Par, clinched clean-hit status. Meanwhile, Hollywood titles like Final Destination: Bloodlines, Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning, and F1 surprised with commendable openings.
Chhaava Sets a New Benchmark
Directed by Laxman Utekar and starring Vicky Kaushal as the historical warrior Sambhaji Maharaj, Chhaava unleashed a cultural wave upon its 14 February release. Backed by A. R. Rahman’s score, the film swiftly recovered its ₹130–140 crore budget in just four days. Ultimately, it amassed approximately ₹7979 crore worldwide, becoming the highest-grossing Indian film of 2025, one of the top 10 Hindi blockbusters of all time, and leading the mid-year chart by a wide margin.
Despite triggering debate over historical accuracy, prompting CBFC-led cuts and a disclaimer, Chhaava’s box office run remained extraordinary. It became the fastest non-sequel Hindi film to surpass ₹600 crore domestically, firmly establishing itself as Bollywood’s benchmark for 2025. Domestically, it was the fastest non‑sequel to cross ₹600 crore, cementing Bollywood’s mid‑year box‑office revival.
Raid 2 Keeps the Momentum
Ajay Devgn returned to the income-tax thriller franchise with Raid 2, directed by Raj Kumar Gupta. Released on 1 May, the film triumphed with audiences, grossing between ₹222–243 crore globally. It became the third-highest-grossing Hindi film of the year, buoyed by strong international numbers and continuing Devgn’s successful run in the franchise. Smart scheduling during a holiday weekend and polished promotion helped it secure clean-hit status.
Sitaare Zameen Par Shines
Aamir Khan’s Sitaare Zameen Par released on 20 June, riding the goodwill of its emotional cricket-and-disability storyline. Produced under his banner, the film earned nearly ₹200 crore globally (₹205 crore to be precise) with ₹126 crore nett coming in just from India. Khan retained a theatrical-first approach, resisting CBFC edits, and the film resonated across demographics, cementing its place as one of the three clean Hindi hits of the half-year.
(Also read: Sitaare Zameen Par Box Office Collection Day 12: Aamir Khan’s Film Heading For 47 Crore 2nd Week, HIt 175 Crore Lifetime On Cards)
Average and Below‑Average Films
- Housefull 5 – ₹301.5 crore worldwide (₹236 crore gross). Despite strong numbers, criticism of dated humor and formulaic gags kept it in the average range. Compared to Akshay Kumar’s other recent outings (Skyforce and Kesari Chapter 2), it was still a relative average success. It failed to match the massive success of Housefull 4 (₹296+ crore worldwide) or Akshay’s earlier comic hits.
- Kesari Chapter 2 – ₹142–144 crore worldwide (opening ₹7.5 crore). Opened decently but plateaued quickly due to mixed reviews, ending up average.
- Jaat – ₹112–119 crore worldwide (opening ₹9 crore). Regional appeal helped early numbers, but limited reach kept it in the average bracket.
- Maa – Earned around ₹23 crore domestic net by day 5, grossing near ₹25.5 crore worldwide. Strong initial growth was hampered by slow pacing and overbuilt mythology, placing it below average.
- Bhool Chuk Maaf – ₹90.78 crore worldwide (opening ₹6.85 crore). Started modestly but fizzled out in the second week, ending as below average.
(Also read: Maa Day 4 Box Office Collection: Kajol Starrer Maa Drops Big 47% On Monday, Heading For Under 26 Crore Week One! FLOP)
Outright Flops: Star-Powered Misfires
Several anticipated films flopped despite big names and budgets:
- Emergency: Political drama starring and directed by Kangana Ranaut tanked badly despite its promising subject.
- Skyforce: Akshay Kumar’s patriotic action film underperformed with ₹144–168 crore on a large budget, missing breakeven.
- Superboys of Malegaon: Failed to gain traction; disappeared quickly from theatres.
- Crazxy: Couldn’t connect with audiences; ended as a flop.
- The Bhootnii: Horror-comedy that recorded dismal collections.
- Ground Zero: Emraan Hasmi starrer disappointed from its opening weekend, with weak collections.
- Sikandar: Salman Khan starrer grossed ₹176–177 crore but fell well below expectations, becoming a high-profile miss.
Hollywood Titles Create Surprise Waves
Hollywood produced its own standouts: Final Destination: Bloodlines and Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning attracted viewers, and Brad Pitt’s F1 emerged as a sleeper hit, particularly in multiplex hubs. These overseas titles demonstrated Indian audiences’ broadening palate and the potential for cross-border franchises.
(Also read: F1 Box Office Collection Day 3: Brad Pitt Starrer Scores 21 Crore Plus Weekend Beating Kajol Starrer Maa)
Looking Ahead to Second Half of 2025
With several star-studded releases lined up for the second half of the year including Kartik Aaryan’s romantic comedy, Maddock Horror Universe’s Thama, Ajay Devgn’s Son of Sardaar 2, YRF Spy Universe’s War 2, and Sajid Nadiadwala’s Baaghi 4 among many more, industry analysts are optimistic. The combined success of Chhaava, Raid 2, and Sitaare Zameen Par offers renewed confidence for exhibitors and producers that good content can drive theatre attendance across genres.
As the second half of 2025 kicks in, one question remains: will Bollywood sustain this momentum and make it a truly breakout year?
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