2025 has so far been an epic year for Bollywood, bursting with astonishing highs, unbelievable
successes, and some of the most talked-about films of current times. To a place where, even
four months into this year, it is clear that a brilliant story, a great cast, and proper marketing are
capable of making a movie an EVENT! From a world-record historic epic to an unexpected
animated festival favorite, it has been an exhilarating ride this year. We review the six biggest
Bollywood films of 2025 so far, recapping the reasons for their success!
Chhaava
Coming in first on the list is Chhaava. A historical action film, Chhaava is a cultural
phenomenon. Starring Vicky Kaushal as the fierce Maratha warrior Chhatrapati Sambhaji
Maharaj, the film also marked a monumental risk for the makers which paid off in ways they
would never imagine. With box office numbers looking staggering, even more, notable is its
India net collection that already soared over the ₹600 crore mark. Chhaava became the
highest-grossing Hindi film of 2025 and one of the biggest hits in the history of Indian cinema.
Vicky Kaushal’s committed and intense performance should get a lot of credit for this. He is
reported to have gained another 25 kilos just to be able to prepare for the role. His physical
transformation as well as moral depth in the role was appreciated by both critics, and fans. A lot
of the success of Chhaava should also be attributed to its historical basis of the novel, Chhava,
because it not only offered audiences the benefit of their hero’s historical background and
stance as framed in the emotions of the character, but also because of its emotional core, along
with its powerful patriotic message. It decisively showed that historical epics that are true to their
intents and made on a grand scale can also lead to unprecedented triumphs. Chhaava’s not
only a surprise win for its director — it is a win for the genre of historical epics. Its compelling
narrative and performances have set a new standard or benchmark for future historical drama’s
to aspire to.
Saiyaara
In a year largely ruled by action films and sequels, Saiyaara was the biggest surprise. This
A romance-drama film that came out earlier this year showed that a good love story can also still
make a huge box office success. Several industry experts were shocked because this film
didn’t have a huge action budget. The film had a larger impact through the beauty of its story
and the emotion that came out of it. The film quietly became a superhit with cumulative earnings
by the domestic box office at ₹337 crore. The shock made sense, and as demonstrated by
strong word of mouth and ultimately what broke down the numbers, people fell in love with the
music and performances from its actors and the heart of the film. This film demonstrated that a
good, simple, genuine story could hold the same impact that a high-octane action film could
have. It was a great example of how to disengage the attention from the prevailing trend, which was
a movie that gained the audience simply by word of mouth and connected directly with the
human relationships of its original story without the fuss and noise of a marketing campaign.
The success of Saiyaara is a refreshing tour for the industry, as it demonstrates that the
audience wants to see different domestic stories. It also demonstrated that good film only needs
a good audience to engage with its content and to be left to be whomever – a huge commercial
success that is on its own suitable terms.
War 2
War 2, the latest installment in the YRF Spy Universe, was one of the most anticipated releases
of the year, especially with the union of superstars Hrithik Roshan and Jr NTR. The opening of
the film was outstanding but the run at the box office was more zig-zag than upward. It crossed
₹243 crore in India net collections but the film received mixed reviews and because of that it
didn’t achieve the heights after a very strong start. The film was criticized for the
average/obvious story and didn’t meet the benchmarks set by previous parts in the spy
universe. However, there is no denying that this film was a success in a way that it unified two
of the biggest stars of two different industries and had a high-octane action appeal that fans
wanted to see. This film’s performance at the box office displays the strength of the spy
universe and is a commercial hit, even if many critics viewed differently. War 2 will be
remembered for its high star power and great action, even if its story is ordinary and didn’t meet
expectations.
Mahavatar Narsimha
This film is an underdog story for the new age. After a fairly modest opening, this animated
mythological drama became a “super duper hit” on the back of audiences talking about it to their
friends and family. The resultant India net collection surpassed the ₹243 crore mark and showed
that people will watch a good story (no matter the type or cast) in huge numbers. The film’s
success is an important landmark for the animation industry in India which has been unable to
develop huge box office hits this century. Mahavatar Narsimha’s grand scope, spectacular
visuals, compelling narrative, and emotional heft were embraced by both kids and adults alike. It
was a movie that people genuinely loved and passionately talked about to their loved ones. The
phenomenon raised so many questions about the traditional notion of film success, signified the
interest and willingness of audiences to choose films outside of conventional genres, and most
importantly signified the interest in mythology, and coincided with the thirst for films that
celebrate Indian history and culture in a vibrant way. Overall this film is a terrific example of how
a film can beat all expectations and become a bonafide blockbuster success.
Housefull 5
Housefull 5, the fifth film in the Housefull comedy franchise found a lot of commercial success,
which gave everyone hope that the age of slapstick comedy and musicals and dumb fun is
back! Directed by Farhad Samji, and led by Akshay Kumar, its cast was an ensemble with a
unique plot – a murder mystery on a cruise. Housefull 5’s boldest move was releasing the film
with two different endings, which set a new standard for a big Bollywood film. This gimmick
alone turned out to be a talking point, while also giving some movie-goers a reason to watch the
film twice, thereby increasing its box office figures. The film achieved box office boost earning
over ₹198 crore at the domestic box office. While Housefull 5 wound up being a successful
box-office venture, the critics were mixed on it, and did not give it glowing reviews. They felt it
was too long and the plot was weak, however they accepted that its an entertaining film for fans
of the franchise. Housefull 5’s commercial success is a testament that the comedy genre can
still be a box office powerhouse in the Bollywood industry and that a good franchise can still win
in the box office.
Raid 2
Seven years after the original, Raid 2 returned with the fan-favourite IRS officer Amay Patnaik,
played again by Ajay Devgn. The film was commercially viable, netting over ₹179 crore at the
domestic box office. The sequel to celebrated crime thriller was a hands down mass entertainer.
It promised a new and formidable villain in Dada Manohar Bhai (Riteish Deshmukh) and a new
case for Amay to investigate. Great performances, few gripping scenes and action were
appreciated. However, Raid 2 did not fully deliver upon the legacy of its predecessor. The critics
and audience typically have a sense of what to expect. Critics felt it was somewhat more
predictable than the original and did not feel as fresh. Raid 2’s plot while clever, was also felt to
be a little long and overly convoluted. Nonetheless, Raid 2 was an undeniable success that
proved Ajay Devgn’s star appeal and audiences’ hunger for intelligent crime thrillers. Its box
office is indicative of its brand value conducive and evidence that a good sequel, even with
flaws, can be a success.