Bollywood, the Indian film industry, has come a long way since its inception in 1913. Over the years, Bollywood has produced some exceptional movies that have garnered a huge fan following not only in India but also worldwide.
From action-packed movies to romantic flicks, Bollywood has catered to all genres of movie enthusiasts. In the past decade, Bollywood has witnessed an escalation in box-office collections due to the advent of high-tech cameras, advanced special effects, and increased overseas releases. Here are the top 10 Bollywood movies that have generated the highest box-office collections to date.
1. Baahubali 2: The Conclusion
Directed by S.S Rajamouli, Baahubali 2: The Conclusion was released in 2017 and produced by Shobu Yarlagadda and Prasad Devineni under the banner of Arka Media Works. Starring Prabhas, Anushka Shetty, and Rana Daggubati in lead roles, this epic drama garnered a whopping INR 1.8 billion (US$24 million) worldwide.
2. Dangal
Released in 2016, Dangal is directed by Nitesh Tiwari and produced by Aamir Khan, Kiran Rao, and Siddharth Roy Kapur under the banner of Walt Disney Pictures, Aamir Khan Productions, and UTV Motion Pictures. Starring Aamir Khan, Fatima Sana Shaikh, and Sanya Malhotra, this movie was based on the true story of wrestler Mahavir Singh Phogat and his daughters who become successful wrestlers. With a box-office collection of INR 2.1 billion (US$ 28 million), Dangal became one of the highest-grossing Bollywood movies of all time.
3. Sanju
Sanju is a biographical drama film directed by Rajkumar Hirani and produced by Vidhu Vinod Chopra. Released in 2018, Sanju stars Ranbir Kapoor in the lead role of Sanjay Dutt, a well-known Bollywood actor. With a box-office collection of INR 3.5 billion (US$46 million), Sanju became one of the highest-grossing Bollywood movies in history.
4. P K
Produced by Vidhu Vinod Chopra and directed by Rajkumar Hirani, P K was released in 2014. Starring Aamir Khan, Anushka Sharma, and Sushant Singh Rajput in lead roles, the movie depicted the story of an alien who lands on Earth and questions the practices of religion. With a box-office collection of INR 8.5 billion (US$130 million), P K became one of the highest-grossing Bollywood movies of all time.
5. Bajrangi Bhaijaan
Directed by Kabir Khan and produced by Salman Khan and Rockline Venkatesh, Bajrangi Bhaijaan was released in 2015. Starring Salman Khan, Kareena Kapoor, and Nawazuddin Siddiqui in lead roles, the movie depicted the story of a man who helps a young Pakistani girl reach her home safely. With a box-office collection of INR 9.20 billion (US$119.36 million), Bajrangi Bhaijaan became one of the highest-grossing Bollywood movies of all time.
6. Secret Superstar
Directed by Advait Chandan and produced by Aamir Khan and Kiran Rao under the banner of Aamir Khan Productions and Zee Studios, Secret Superstar was released in 2017. Starring Zaira Wasim, Meher Vij, and Raj Arjun, the movie depicted the story of a young girl who aspires to become a singer and gains popularity with the help of a YouTube video. With a box-office collection of INR 965 crores (US$150 million), Secret Superstar became one of the highest-grossing Bollywood movies of all time.
7. Sultan
Directed by Ali Abbas Zafar and produced by Aditya Chopra, Sultan was released in 2016. Starring Salman Khan, Anushka Sharma, and Randeep Hooda in lead roles, the movie depicted the story of a wrestler who falls in love with a female wrestler and makes a comeback in the sport. With a box-office collection of INR 6.5 billion (US$94 million), Sultan became one of the highest-grossing Bollywood movies of all time.
8. Padmaavat
Directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali and produced by Viacom18 Motion Pictures and Bhansali Productions, Padmaavat was released in 2018. Starring Deepika Padukone, Shahid Kapoor, and Ranveer Singh in lead roles, the movie depicted the story of a Rajput queen who faces invasion by the Sultan of Delhi. With a box-office collection of INR 5.15 billion (US$71 million), Padmaavat became one of the highest-grossing Bollywood movies of all time.
9. 2.0
Directed by S. Shankar and produced by A. Subaskaran under the banner of Lyca Productions, 2.0 was released in 2018. Starring Rajinikanth, Akshay Kumar, and Amy Jackson in lead roles, the movie depicted the story of a scientist who helps a resurrected robot defeat a technologically advanced enemy. With a box-office collection of INR 8 billion (US$120 million), 2.0 became one of the highest-grossing Bollywood movies of all time.
10. War
Directed by Siddharth Anand and produced by Aditya Chopra, War was released in 2019. Starring Hrithik Roshan, Tiger Shroff, and Vaani Kapoor in lead roles, the movie depicted the story of an Indian soldier who goes against his former comrade. With a box-office collection of INR 4.81 billion (US$67 million), War became one of the highest-grossing Bollywood movies of all time.
In conclusion, Bollywood has come a long way in terms of its reach and popularity worldwide. The above-mentioned movies have set new benchmarks in box-office collections and continue to entertain audiences across the globe.