Patriotism, Nostalgia Rule First Two Months

Bollywood has seen some remarkable box office performances for re-releases in the past few months and the romantic movie, Sanam Teri Kasam is the latest one to lead the race. Featuring Harshvardhan Rane and Mawra Hocane in a tragic love story, Sanam Teri Kasam has crossed $6 million in lifetime collections. Combined with the fresh and big hits Sky Force and Chhaava, they have earned nearly $100 million at the box office.

Patriotism, Re-releases rule Hindi box office

More than ten major Hindi films released in January and February this year but the major portion of the box office collection can be credited to just three. Bollywood closed the first two months of 2025 on a high note, thanks to Sanam Teri Kasam, Sky Force and Chhaava. Two out of those come from Maddock Films – the production house behind the top box office scorers of 2024 including Stree 2, and Munjya. Maddock Films produced Sky Force and Chhaava. While the war saga has scored over $70 million at the global box office, the film on Indian airstrikes earned nearly $20 million at the ticket windows.

Sanam Teri Kasam

Directed by Radhika Rao and Vinay Sapru, Sanam Teri Kasam first released in 2016 and recorded a little above $1 million box office score. It saw a recording breaking re-release on February 7, 2025. In its second stint alone, the film collected nearly $4.5 million in India. The film scored better than fresh Hindi releases Loveyapa and Deva that landed in theatres side-by-side. Following the success of the film’s re-release, producer Deepak Mukut and director Sapru have confirmed that a sequel is in the works, most likely with the same lead cast.

Sanam Teri Kasam is the story of an unlikely couple – a murder convict and a traditional Indian girl who follows her parents’ rules to the T. The film traces the journey of the heroine’s rebellion juxtaposed with the hero’s transformation into a lover boy.

Sky Force

Abhishek Anil Kapur and Sandeep Kewlani directed Sky Force which released on January 24. The film features Akshay Kumar, and Veer Pahariya in lead roles along with Varun Badola, Sara Ali Khan, Nimrat Kaur and Manish Choudhary in pivotal roles. Jio Studios co-produced the movie with Maddock Films. With an opening collection exceeding $1.7 million, Sky Force it closed the first weekend at $9.9 million in India alone.

Sky Force is inspired by the real-life stories of India’s Group Captain OP Taneja and Squadron Leader Ajjamada Boppayya Devayya. Pahariya plays Devayya character while Kumar essays the roles of Taneja. Sharad Kelkar plays a Pakistani army officer. The film allots different names to the officers, and many other characters but focuses on the real-incidents surrounding the first Indian airstrike executed during the 1965 India-Pakistan war in Sargodha (Pakistan). Blending emotions, action and thrill, Sky Force delves deep into sentiments of soldiers, and the pain of those who lose their near ones.

Chhaava

Vicky Kaushal scored his biggest box office hit with Laxman Utekar directorial. The war drama made an opening global collection of $19 million in its first weekend. Chhaava crossed $25 million mark within six days of the release.

Utekar’s film is about the Indian warrior king Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, the son of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. Chhaava puts the limelight on Sambhaji Maharaj’s iconic fight with the Mughal ruler Aurangzeb’s army. It is a screen adaptation of Shivaji Sawant’s book Chhava.

Kaushal plays the lead ole while Rashmika Mandanna plays his onscreen wife. Akshaye Khanna plays the antagonist while Ashutosh Rana and Vineet Kumar Singh also feature in important and author-backed roles in the film.

2025: Bollywood re-releases

Apart from Sanam Teri Kasam, several Hindi films are bringing good footfall to cinema halls in India. A majority of these were romantic films, given the flavor of the Valentine’s month, February. Led by Ranbir Kapoor and Deepika Padukone, Ayan Mukerji’s Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani opened the re-release market in 2025 when it hit theatres on January 3, 2025. It was followed by the re-release of Hrithik Roshan’s debut Kaho Naa… Pyaar Hai.

The list of Hindi re-releases that followed range from the 80s classic Silsila and Chandni to the new century romcoms such as Jab We Met. While each of these films have their own fan-following, the footfalls at theatres remained limited to a niche audience. None of these, thus, made a mark as big as Sanam Teri Kasam did at the box office.

A number of Hindi films are lined up for re-releases in March as well. Headlined by Rajkummar Rao, Sohum Rockstar Entertainment’s Shaadi Mein Zaroor Ana and Abhay Deol’s Road, Movie are set to hit theatres again on March 7. Vikramaditya Motwane’s Lootera is also set to get a re-release on the same date. Cinephiles may also watch Madhur Bhandarkar’s Fashion, Imtiaz Ali’s Highway and Vikas Bahl’s Queen in theatres from March 7.