The Indian box office, once dominated by Bollywood, has seen a significant shift in recent years, with South Indian cinema emerging as a strong competitor. While 2023 saw Bollywood’s success, 2024 belonged to the South. In 2025, a balanced competition is evident, with both Bollywood and South Indian films achieving significant success. Currently, Vicky Kaushal’s ‘Chhava’ leads in earnings, marking a strong performance for Bollywood.
In 2025, Bollywood has seen five successful films. ‘Chhava,’ starring Vicky Kaushal, set a high bar early in the year, followed by the love story ‘Saiyaara,’ which surprised with its collections. Akshay Kumar and Aamir Khan also made their mark. However, the South Indian film ‘Kantara Chapter 1,’ starring Rishab Shetty, is anticipated to potentially become the first 1000-crore film of 2025.
South Indian cinema also delivered five top-performing films in 2025. Rajinikanth’s ‘Coolie’ is the highest-grossing South Indian film of the year. Other successful films include ‘Mahavtar Narasimha’ and ‘L2 Empuraan.’ Pawan Kalyan’s ‘OG,’ released recently, is expected to enter the list soon, with promising initial numbers and potential to surpass 400 crores.
‘Chhava’ currently leads the pack, inspired by the life of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj. It gained recognition both in India and internationally, earning over 800 crores. Although it didn’t reach the 1000-crore mark, its performance has been unmatched for nine months. ‘Kantara,’ starring Rishab Shetty, is poised to potentially surpass its earnings.
