List Of Highest-Grossing Indian Films In Overseas Markets

Indian films have been released in overseas markets since the latter half of the 1940s.

Some of these have had significant commercial success and been nominated for awards.

The first Indian film to have a worldwide release was from 1952 (Aan, directed by Mehboob Khan). In the 1950s, Indian films saw success in a handful of regions. At the time, the most significant market for Indian films was the Soviet Union, gaining considerable success and occasionally leading to Indian-Soviet co-productions. In the 1950s and 1960s, the Indian film industry also expanded in China and East Africa, which, after the Soviet Union, accounted for some of the largest shares of overseas revenues. Since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, the most significant market has been the South Asian diaspora. China, India's geographic neighbour and the world's second largest film market (after the United States), has seen growing success for Indian films since the beginning of the 21st century.

History

The first Indian film to have a commercial release in an overseas territory was Dharti Ke Lal (1946), directed by Khwaja Ahmad Abbas and based on the Bengal famine of 1943. It was released in the Soviet Union in 1949. The first Indian film to have a worldwide release in many countries was Aan (1952), directed by Mehboob Khan, and starring Dilip Kumar and Nimmi. It was subtitled in 17 languages and released in 28 countries, including the United Kingdom, United States, France, and Japan, earning a considerable profit from overseas. Mehboob Khan's Academy Award-nominated Mother India (1957) was an unprecedented success in overseas markets, including Europe, Russia, the Eastern Bloc, French territories, and Latin America.

In the 1950s, Bollywood and Egyptian films were generally more popular than Hollywood films in East Africa. By the 1960s, the region was one of the largest overseas export markets for Indian films, accounting for about 20-50% of global earnings for many Indian films.

Soviet Union

Up until the 1980s, the largest overseas market for Indian films was the Soviet Union. After Dharti Ke Lal, the first Indian film to become a blockbuster at the Soviet box office was Awaara (1951), directed by Raj Kapoor and written by Khwaja Ahmad Abbas, released in the Soviet Union in 1954. Indian films had the strongest presence in the Soviet foreign blockbuster charts for four decades. 300 Indian films were released in the Soviet Union, most of which were Bollywood films. Among the foreign films that sold more than 20 million tickets in the Soviet Union, 50 were Indian films, the highest from any nation, compared to 41 Hollywood films. Indian films were routinely released with hundreds of prints in the Soviet Union, with the most popular Indian films releasing with more than a thousand prints there.

The highest-grossing Indian film in the Soviet Union was Disco Dancer (1982), written by Rahi Masoom Raza and starring actor Mithun Chakraborty. In terms of footfalls, the only Indian films estimated to have sold 100 million tickets overseas were Awaara and Disco Dancer in the Soviet Union. Indian films were very popular in Russia at the time, routinely opening to packed houses. However, the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991, bringing an end to Indian cinema's largest overseas market at the time. The decline of Russian cinema in the post-Soviet era led to Indian films largely disappearing from Russian cinemas by the mid-1990s.

China

In China, some of the Indian films to gain commercial success there during the 1970s–1980s included Awaara, Tahir Hussain's Caravan (1971), Noorie (1979), and Disco Dancer.

After Indian films declined in the country, it took decades before Tahir Hussain's son Aamir Khan opened up the Chinese market for Indian films in the early 21st century. His Academy Award nominated Lagaan (2001) became the first Indian film to have a nationwide release there. When 3 Idiots released in China, the country was only the 15th largest film market, partly due to China's widespread pirate DVD distribution at the time. However, it was the pirate market that introduced 3 Idiots to most Chinese audiences, becoming a cult hit in the country. It became China's 12th favourite film of all time, according to ratings on Chinese film review site Douban, with only one domestic Chinese film (Farewell My Concubine) ranked higher. Aamir Khan gained a large growing Chinese fanbase as a result. By 2013, China grew to become the world's second largest film market (after the United States), paving the way for Aamir Khan's Chinese box office success, starting with Dhoom 3 (2013).

PK (2014) was the first Indian film to collect 2 billion overseas, and Dangal (2016) is the first Indian film to exceed 10 billion and $100 million overseas, including ¥1.299 billion ($196.89 million) from China. Dangal became the 16th highest-grossing film in China, the fifth highest-grossing non-English language film worldwide, and the highest-grossing non-English foreign film in any market. His next film, the Zaira Wasim starrer Secret Superstar (2017), broke Dangal's record for the highest-grossing opening weekend by an Indian film, cementing Aamir Khan's status as a superstar in China, and as "a king of the Chinese box office". Salman Khan's Bajrangi Bhaijaan and Irrfan Khan's Hindi Medium also became blockbusters in China during early 2018.

South Asian diaspora

Since the 1990s, the largest overseas market for Indian cinema has been the South Asian diaspora. South Asians in the United Kingdom were the first major diaspora market, with Indian film releases in the United Kingdom dating back to the 1950s.

The diaspora market grew significantly in the early 1990s, with the popularity of Shah Rukh Khan largely credited for popularizing the trend of Indian films targeting overseas NRI audiences. After substantial overseas success from the Shah Rukh Khan-starrer Darr (1993) and the Madhuri Dixit-Salman Khan-starrer Hum Aapke Hain Koun (1994), the biggest overseas breakthrough came with Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (1995), starring Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol as NRIs in love. Afterwards, Indian films followed a trend of releasing worldwide with an increasing number of screens. The Shah Rukh Khan-starrer Dil Se.. (1998) was the first Indian film to enter the United Kingdom's top 10 box office charts. Diaspora audiences in the United States and United Kingdom accounted for 55% of overseas ticket sales for films such as Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (1998) and Taal (1999). In 2000, the overseas export market for Indian films was worth $100 million annually. The Naseeruddin Shah-starrer Monsoon Wedding (2001) crossed ₹100 crore overseas, followed by the Shah Rukh Khan-starrer My Name Is Khan (2010) and then the Aamir Khan-starrer 3 Idiots (2009) in 2011. Shah Rukh Khan also holds the record for having starred in the annual highest-grossing Hindi film in overseas markets for 15 individual years, the highest for any actor, with the latest being Pathaan (2023).

Overseas gross figures

The following list of films is sorted in terms of US dollars (not adjusted for inflation), the standard currency used to measure box office performance for overseas markets.

* Denotes films still running in theaters
Rank Title Year Overseas gross Original
language(s)
Ref
1 Dangal 2016 $238,114,000 Hindi
2 Secret Superstar 2017 $140,000,000 Hindi
3 Bajrangi Bhaijaan 2015 $80,400,000 Hindi
4 Disco Dancer 1982 $75,850,000 Hindi
5 Baahubali 2: The Conclusion 2017 $60,339,135 Telugu
6 RRR 2022 $53,500,000 Telugu
7 PK 2014 $53,400,000 Hindi
8 Andhadhun 2018 $50,280,000 Hindi
9 Pathaan 2023 $49,200,000 Hindi
10 Jawan $46,570,000 Hindi
11 Caravan 1971 $39,000,000 Hindi
12 Hindi Medium 2017 $36,520,000 Hindi
13 Dhoom 3 2013 $35,600,000 Hindi
14 Animal 2023 $31,936,250 Hindi
15 3 Idiots 2009 $30,500,000 Hindi
16 Dilwale 2015 $30,200,000 Hindi
17 Sultan 2016 $29,820,000 Hindi
18 Bobby 1973 $29,400,000 Hindi
19 Padmaavat 2018 $29,140,000 Hindi
20 Barood 1976 $28,200,000 Hindi
21 Sholay 1975 $28,200,000 Hindi
22 Jagir 1984 $28,010,000 Hindi
23 K.G.F: Chapter 2 2022 $27,050,000 Kannada
24 Seeta Aur Geeta 1972 $25,900,000 Hindi
25 Awaara 1951 $25,830,000 Hindi
26 Hichki 2018 $25,000,000 Hindi
27 Leo 2023 $23,900,000 Tamil
28 Jailer 2023 $23,800,000 Tamil
29 Dunki 2023 $23,681,130 Hindi
30 My Name Is Khan 2010 $23,500,000 Hindi
31 Monsoon Wedding 2001 $22,450,000 Hindi
32 Mera Naam Joker 1970 $22,130,000 Hindi
33 Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani 2023 $22,000,000 Hindi
34 Sanju 2018 $21,500,000 Hindi
35 Ponniyin Selvan: I 2022 $20,700,000 Tamil
36 Chennai Express 2013 $20,649,000 Hindi
37 Baahubali: The Beginning 2015 $20,615,400 Telugu
38 Adventures of Ali-Baba and the Forty Thieves 1980 $20,500,000 Hindi
39 Tiger Zinda Hai 2017 $20,300,000 Hindi
40 2.0 2018 $19,500,000 Tamil
41 Toilet: Ek Prem Katha 2017 $18,880,000 Hindi
42 Thugs of Hindostan 2018 $18,670,000 Hindi
43 Mom 2017 $18,670,000 Hindi
44 Salaar: Part 1 – Ceasefire 2023 $18,000,000 Telugu
45 Happy New Year 2014 $17,120,000 Hindi
46 Bajirao Mastani 2015 $15,100,000 Hindi
47 Prem Ratan Dhan Payo 2015 $14,780,000 Hindi
48 Pad Man 2018 $14,430,000 Hindi
49 Mamta 1966 $14,400,000 Hindi
50 Aradhana 1969 $14,290,000 Hindi

Major overseas markets

China

Chinese box office gross revenue
Rank Title Release year Gross revenue (CN¥) Ref
India China
1 Dangal 2016 2017 ¥1,299,181,400
2 Secret Superstar 2017 2018 ¥747,068,700
3 Andhadhun 2018 2019 ¥325,322,100
4 Bajrangi Bhaijaan 2015 2018 ¥285,597,700
5 Hindi Medium 2017 ¥210,386,400
6 Hichki 2018 ¥149,574,700
7 PK 2014 2015 ¥118,182,200
8 Mom 2017 2019 ¥112,993,200
9 Toilet: Ek Prem Katha 2018 ¥94,608,000
10 Baahubali 2: The Conclusion ¥76,840,000
Chinese box office footfalls (ticket sales)
Rank Title Release year Footfalls (est. ticket sales) Ref
India China
1 Caravan 1971 1979 300,000,000
2 Awaara 1951 1955 100,000,000+
3 Kung Fu Yoga 2017 2017 45,907,800
4 Dangal 2016 44,897,623
5 Secret Superstar 2017 2018 24,884,000
6 Andhadhun 2018 2019 10,069,100
7 Bajrangi Bhaijaan 2015 2018 9,264,200
8 Hindi Medium 2017 6,892,000
9 Hichki 2018 4,925,800
10 PK 2014 2015 3,876,100

Soviet Union

Rank Title Release year Footfalls (est. ticket sales) Gross revenue (est. руб) Ref
1 Disco Dancer 1982 1984 120,000,000 60,000,000
2 Awaara 1951 1954 100,000,000 37,750,000
3 Mera Naam Joker 1970 1972 73,100,000 18,280,000
4 Bobby 1973 1975 62,600,000 15,700,000+
5 Barood 1976 1978 60,000,000 15,000,000+
6 Sholay 1975 1979 60,000,000 15,000,000+
7 Seeta Aur Geeta 1972 1976 55,200,000 13,800,000+
8 Mamta 1966 1969 51,800,000 13,000,000
9 Aradhana 1969 1972 47,400,000 11,850,000
10 Phool Aur Patthar 1966 1970 46,400,000 11,600,000

United States and Canada

Rank Title Year Gross revenue (US dollars) Footfalls (est. ticket sales) Ref
1 Baahubali 2: The Conclusion 2017 $20,792,334 2,255,500
2 Pathaan 2023 $17,485,909 1,850,000
3 Jawan 2023 $15,220,999 1,622,000
4 RRR 2022 $15,156,051 1,186,000
5 Animal 2023 $14,995,529 1,598,000
6 Monsoon Wedding 2002 $13,885,966 2,486,000
7 The Namesake 2007 $13,569,248 1,998,000
8 Dangal 2016 $12,392,000 1,432,000
9 Padmaavat 2018 $12,165,000 1,300,000
10 PK 2014 $10,617,000 1,299,000

United Arab Emirates

Rank Title Year Gross revenue (Dhs) Footfalls (ticket sales) Ref
1 Jawan 2023 58,768,000 656,370
2 Pathaan 48,996,085 641,680
3 Baahubali 2: The Conclusion 2017 39,587,000 Unknown
4 Bajrangi Bhaijaan 2015 34,681,000
5 Dangal 2016 32,200,000
6 Sultan 31,400,000
7 Dilwale 2015 30,800,000
8 K.G.F: Chapter 2 2022 28,900,000 466,078
9 Tiger Zinda Hai 2017 26,310,000 Unknown
10 Jailer 2023 23,507,200 357,475

United Kingdom

Rank Title Year Gross revenue (£) Footfalls (est. ticket sales) Ref
1 Pathaan 2023 £4,379,014 570,000
2 Jawan £3,276,981 392,405
3 My Name Is Khan 2010 £3,000,000 449,377
4 Dhoom 3 2013 £2,710,319 465,481
5 Bajrangi Bhaijaan 2015 £2,662,115 365,142
6 Dangal 2016 £2,600,000 342,334
7 Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham... 2001 £2,499,000 406,923
8 Animal 2023 £2,405,465 300,000
9 PK 2014 £2,387,000 345,176
10 Dilwale 2015 £2,351,000 322,181

Australia

Rank Title Year Gross revenue (A$) Ref
1 Animal 2023 A$5,022,387
2 Pathaan A$4,720,000
3 Jawan A$4,676,803
4 Baahubali 2: The Conclusion 2017 A$4,500,000
5 RRR 2022 A$3,600,000
6 K.G.F: Chapter 2 A$3,473,000
7 Padmaavat 2018 A$3,163,000
8 Dunki 2023 A$2,813,111
9 Dangal 2016 A$2,623,000
10 Sanju 2018 A$2,409,000

Japan

Rank Title Release year Gross revenue (¥) Ref
1 RRR 2022 2022 ¥2,345,094,490
2 Muthu 1995 1998 ¥400,000,000
3 Baahubali 2: The Conclusion 2017 2018 ¥300,000,000
4 Darbar 2020 2021 ¥230,000,000
5 3 Idiots 2009 2013 ¥170,000,000
6 Magadheera 2018 ¥160,000,000
7 English Vinglish 2012 2014 ¥150,000,000
8 The Lunchbox 2013 ¥150,000,000
9 Saaho 2019 2020 ¥120,000,000
10 Enthiran 2010 2011 ¥100,000,000

Malaysia

Rank Title Release year Gross revenue (RM) Ref
1 Ponniyin Selvan: I 2022 16,710,000
2 2.0 2018 16,500,000 [citation needed]
3 Dilwale 2015 14,640,535
4 Kabali 2016 12,580,000 [citation needed]
5 Jailer 2023 12,430,000
6 Mersal 2017 11,820,000 [citation needed]
7 Jawan 2023 10,780,000
8 Bigil 2019 11,490,000 [citation needed]
9 Vikram 2022 10,970,000
10 K.G.F: Chapter 2 10,150,000

Gross records in global markets

Market Highest-grossing Indian film Year Gross Ref
Asia
China Dangal 2017 CN¥1,299,181,400
Japan RRR 2022 JP¥2,345,094,490
United Arab Emirates Jawan 2023 Dhs. 58,768,000
Taiwan Dangal 2017 NT$166,844,341
South Korea Black 2009 6,254,367,609
Lebanon Happy New Year 2014 LL 7,409,228,150
Malaysia Ponniyin Selvan: I 2022 RM 16,710,000
Bahrain
Kuwait
Oman
Qatar
Pathaan US$3,800,000
Hong Kong Dangal 2017 HK$27,139,998
Pakistan Sanju 2018 Rs. 373,000,000
Indonesia Kuch Kuch Hota Hai 1998 US$3,000,000
Nepal Baahubali 2: The Conclusion 2017 रु25,00,00,000
Saudi Arabia Pathaan 2023 US$1,975,000
Singapore Jawan S$1,072,992
Bangladesh Jawan US$350,000
Sri Lanka Jailer US$595,000
Thailand Pathaan US$100,000
Eurasia
Soviet Union Disco Dancer 1984 60,000,000 руб
Turkey Secret Superstar 2017 1,815,038
Russia Pushpa:The Rise 2021 17,000,000
Americas
United States Baahubali 2: The Conclusion 2017 US$19,189,722
Canada Animal 2023 US$6,524,534
Peru Dilwale 2016 S/.1,011,653
Trinidad and Tobago 2015 US$258,000
Argentina The Lunchbox 2014 Arg$1,909,640
Mexico Mex$1,885,972
Brazil R$271,798
Colombia Col$239,381,792
Caribbean Maine Pyar Kiya 1989 Unknown
Guyana
West Indies Dilwale 2015 Unknown
Europe
United Kingdom Pathaan 2023 £4,379,014
France Salaam Bombay! 1988 633,899 tickets
Italy Monsoon Wedding 2001 US$2,207,869
Germany 2002 1,813,354
Spain Water 2006 $1,339,332
Netherlands Pathaan 2023 $455,000
Sweden The Lunchbox 2014 SKr 2,982,258
Austria 2013 €177,860
Belgium €154,085
Norway 2014 NKr 1,030,016
Switzerland Pathaan 2023 $160,000
Oceania
Australia Animal 2023 A$4,720,711
New Zealand Pathaan NZ$1,373,787
Fiji Golmaal Again 2017 $235,440
Africa
Nigeria English Vinglish 2012 $842,330
Egypt My Name Is Khan 2010 2,911,204
South Africa Dilwale 2015 $466,000

Highest overseas gross by year

Year Title Overseas gross Ref
1946 Dharti Ke Lal Unknown
1948 Chandralekha ¥2,319,000
1951 Awaara 200,100,000 tickets
1952 Aandhiyan 25,000,000 tickets
1955 Shree 420 35,000,000 tickets
1956 Jagte Raho 33,600,000 tickets
1959 Char Dil Char Rahen 39,800,000 tickets
1960 Love in Simla 35,000,000 tickets
1961 Ganga Jamna 32,100,000 tickets
1964 Geet Gaya Patharon Ne 38,000,000 tickets
1965 Arzoo 40,600,000 tickets
1966 Mamta 52,100,000 tickets
1967 Hamraaz 42,400,000 tickets
1968 Duniya 45,500,000 tickets
1969 Aradhana 47,400,000 tickets
1970 Mera Naam Joker 73,100,000 tickets
1971 Caravan 300,000,000 tickets
1972 Seeta Aur Geeta 55,200,000 tickets
1973 Bobby 62,600,000 tickets
1974 Chor Machaye Shor 25,900,000 tickets
1975 Sholay 60,000,000 tickets
1976 Barood 60,000,000 tickets
1977 Dharam Veer 32,000,000 tickets
1978 Trishul 29,700,000 tickets
1979 Jhoota Kahin Ka 23,900,000 tickets
1980 Adventures of Ali-Baba and the Forty Thieves 52,800,000 tickets
1982 Disco Dancer 120,000,000 tickets
1983 Agar Tum Na Hote 24,800,000 tickets
1984 Jagir 38,000,000 tickets
1987 Mr. India Unknown
1988 Salaam Bombay! 1,399,073 tickets
1989 Maine Pyar Kiya Unknown
1990 Ajooba Unknown
1991 Shikari: The Hunter Unknown
1992 Raju Ban Gaya Gentleman Unknown
1993 Darr $500,000
1994 Hum Aapke Hain Koun..! $6,168,000
1995 Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge $6,242,965
1996 Khamoshi: The Musical $750,000
1997 Dil To Pagal Hai $3,360,000
1998 Kuch Kuch Hota Hai $8,000,000
1999 Taal $8,000,000
2000 Mohabbatein $4,250,000
2001 Monsoon Wedding $22,450,000
2002 Devdas $6,982,000
2003 Kal Ho Naa Ho $6,100,000
2004 Veer-Zaara $8,220,000
2005 Black $7,700,000
2006 Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna $10,770,000
2007 Om Shanti Om $13,077,815
2008 Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi $8,500,000
2009 3 Idiots $30,500,000
2010 My Name Is Khan $23,500,000
2011 Don 2 $11,200,000
2012 Jab Tak Hai Jaan $13,230,000
2013 Dhoom 3 $35,600,000
2014 PK $53,400,000
2015 Bajrangi Bhaijaan $84,000,000
2016 Dangal $260,000,000
2017 Secret Superstar $140,000,000
2018 Andhadhun $50,280,000
2019 War $13,780,000
2020 Darbar $11,550,000
2021 83 $8,500,000
2022 RRR $45,000,000
2023 Pathaan $49,200,000
2024 Fighter $12,000,000

International co-productions

The following films are international co-productions between Indian and non-Indian film studios. Films shot primarily in Indian languages are included on the lists above, as well as listed below. Films shot primarily in non-Indian languages are excluded from most of the lists above, but included on the list below.

Rank Title Year Language(s) Overseas gross
(USD)
Ref
1 Lincoln 2013 English $275 million
2 Kung Fu Yoga 2017 Mandarin $257.8 million
3 The Help 2011 English $216.6 million
4 Gandhi 1982 English $91.72 million
5 Bride and Prejudice 2005 English $24.71 million
6 My Name Is Khan 2010 Hindi
English
$23.5 million
7 Monsoon Wedding 2001 Hindi $22.45 million
8 Adventures of Ali-Baba and the Forty Thieves 1980 Hindustani
Russian
$20.5 million
9 The Namesake 2006 English
Bengali
$18.5 million
10 Water 2005 Hindi
English
$10.42 million
11 Kama Sutra: A Tale of Love 1997 English $8.6 million
12 Salaam Mumbai 2016 Persian
Hindi
English
$3.9 million

See also

Notes

Tags:

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