2025 Box Office Verdict:Dhurandhar's Double Crown: Beating Chhaava at Home and Coolie Overseas
As we approach the end of 2025, the Box Office has delivered a verdict unlike any year in the last decade. The era where a single Pan India blockbuster would blindly rule every territory is over. Instead, 2025 was the year of the Split Verdict.The data shows a fascinating disconnect between what the domestic audience wanted versus what the global audience paid for. With massive event films like War 2 and Sikandar stumbling and failing to unite these two worlds, the throne was left open for most of the year.
However, as the year closes, Dhurandhar has emerged as the ultimate outlier, bridging this massive gap. By its 21st day (with early estimates of ₹26 Cr), it has officially done the impossible: it has surpassed Kantara: Chapter 1 to become the #1 film in India (Netting ₹633.5 Cr) and decimated Coolie's record to become the #1 film Overseas (Grossing $25.4 Million / ₹215 Cr).
While 2025 was a year of One India, Two Realities, Dhurandhar stands as the only film to conquer both. Here is the definitive Territory Breakdown of 2025: The Fortress of the Bollywood vs. The Global Giants, and the one film that finally united them.
THE NEW DOMESTIC EMPEROR (STILL RUNNING): Dhurandhar
India Nett: ₹ 633.5 Cr [As of Day 21] | India Gross: ₹ 729 Cr | Footfalls: 2.6 Crore+ | Verdict: All-Time Blockbuster*
While the year was defined by a divide, Dhurandhar arrived to shatter every record in the book. As of its 3rd Thursday (Day 21) with early estimates of ₹ 26.00 Cr, it has officially surpassed both Kantara: Chapter 1 and Chhaava to become the Highest Grossing Film of 2025 in India. Still running strong in theaters, it is the only film this year to cross the ₹630 Cr mark, proving that when a film strikes the right emotional chord, the sky is the limit.
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THE PAN-INDIA JUGGERNAUT: Kantara: Chapter 1
India Nett: ₹ 622.04 Cr (All Lang) | Footfalls: 3.41 Crore | Verdict: All-Time Blockbuster
While Chhaava ruled the Hindi originals, Kantara was the force that united the nation for the majority of the year. It penetrated the traditional Bollywood markets with a ferocity rarely seen, grossing numbers that rivaled the biggest local stars. By diving deep into folklore and divinity, it proved that a story rooted in Indian soil transcends all language barriers. As per the Day-Wise Breakdown , it registered 3.41 Crore (34.1 Million) footfalls, and Worldwide Gross of ₹851 Cr. Until the arrival of Dhurandhar, it stood as the highest-grossing film of the year in India.
THE DOMESTIC KING: Chhaava
India Nett: ₹601.54 Cr | Footfalls: 3.05 Crore | Verdict: All-Time Blockbuster
Vicky Kaushal's portrayal of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj didn't just entertain; it became a movement. While other biggies struggled to cross the ₹200 Cr mark, Chhaava pulled off the impossible—bringing the elderly, the youth, and families back to the cinemas together. It stands tall as a film that sustained a majestic 6-week run in the Bollywood belt, proving that for the Hindi industry, cultural pride is the new gold standard. It remains one of the few Bollywood films to cross the ₹600 Cr mark. (See the weekly trending chart Here )
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THE VOLUME SURVIVOR: War 2
India Nett: ₹ 236.55 Cr | Footfalls: 1.17 Crore | Verdict: Underperformer
Numbers don't lie. While the film struggled to recover its massive budget (making it a trade underperformer), it still undeniably ruled the North in terms of visibility. The film registered a massive Opening Weekend of ₹123.75 Cr (Net); it generated high ticket sales initially. It proves that even when a movie doesn't work creatively, the sheer Star Power of Hrithik Roshan and Jr NTR is enough to drag the audience to the theaters.
FILMS THAT WON THE OVERSEAS
The box office divide of 2025 reveals a fascinating psychological shift. While the domestic audience in the Bollywood belt gravitated toward grounded storytelling, the international diaspora sought The Cinema of Spectacle. They embraced films that spoke a universal visual language—one of style, charisma, and scale.
THE GLOBAL TITAN: Dhurandhar
Overseas Gross: ₹ 215 Cr|Top Market: North America,UK,Australia | Verdict:All time Blockbuster
Dhurandhar has surpassed every other 2025 release in the international circuit. While other films succeeded in specific pockets, Dhurandhar saw a massive, uniform surge across North America, and the UK, proving that when Content meets Swagger, the results are record-breaking.
THE OVERSEAS CHAMPION: Coolie
Overseas Gross: ₹ 180.5 Cr | Top Market: North America | Verdict:Average
Rajinikanth remains the undisputed Emperor of the overseas market. The combination of stylish direction and Thalaiva’s swag meant that Coolie decimated records in the USA, Malaysia, and Singapore. For much of the year, it earned more dollars abroad than any Bollywood movie, proving that outside India, Star Power remains a massive draw.
THE DARK HORSE: Saiyaara
Overseas Gross: ₹171.5 Cr | Top Market: UK/Canada | Verdict: Super Hit
The surprise of the year. While action movies fatigued the NRI audience, this romantic drama from Bollywood became the date-night movie of 2025. It stands as a top-performing Bollywood film in the overseas market, outperforming even War 2 in the UK and Canada.
THE GULF GIANT: L2: Empuraan
Overseas Gross: ₹142.25 Cr | Top Market: GCC/UAE | Verdict: Blockbuster
Mohanlal's Lucifer sequel didn't just perform well; it ruled the Middle East. In the GCC region specifically, L2 sold more tickets than many massive Hindi releases, showcasing the massive power of South Indian cinema in the Gulf.
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