If you believed Hollywood cornered the market on sky-high budgets for movies, not so fast. Indian film has crept up and, at times, trumpeted its game, making movies with budgets competing with some of the world’s biggest blockbusters. From sci-fi epics to mythological fantasies, these films are going all out, and the figures don’t lie. Here’s a glance at the costliest Indian films ever produced—and where they stand compared to the most expensive movies globally.
1. Kalki 2898 AD – ₹600 Crore
The science-fiction blockbuster Kalki 2898 AD is raising the standards for Indian cinema with an estimated budget of ₹600 crore. With its ambitious sci-fi backdrop and all-star cast, this Telugu film promises as much visual fidelity as anything America’s Hollywood can produce. If sneak peeks are anything to judge by, it’s the sort of visual spectacle that would make even the most experienced visual effects professionals marvel.
2. RRR – ₹550 Crore
SS Rajamouli-directed RRR didn’t just rule the box office—it set records. Spelled out to the tune of ₹550 crore, the Telugu-language historical drama left no stone unturned. From epic battle sequences to sumptuous set pieces, each frame is packed with detail. It’s not a film—it’s an experience.
3. Adipurush – ₹500–700 Crore
Depending on who you ask, Adipurush took between ₹500 crore and ₹700 crore to make. This ambitious retelling of Ramayana was meant to be a visual spectacle, merging mythology with lots of CGI. The film’s reception can be said to have been divided, but from a production perspective, it’s one of the bravest projects Indian cinema has ever undertaken.
4. 2.0 – ₹400–600 Crore
The follow-up to Enthiran (Robot), 2.0 stars Rajinikanth and Akshay Kumar in a technology-heavy battle between man and machine. With a budget of anywhere from ₹400 crore to ₹600 crore, it’s among the costliest sci-fi movies ever produced in India. The movie went all in on VFX innovations, providing a spectacle that held its own among international peers.
5. Pushpa 2: The Rule – ₹400–500 Crore
Following the stupendous success of Pushpa: The Rise, expectations for its sequel are through the roof—and so is the budget. Pushpa 2: The Rule has an allegedly ₹400–500 crore budget. With Allu Arjun once again in the lead role and a dedicated fan following in wait, the outlay does not seem unjustified.
6. The Greatest of All Time – ₹380–400 Crore
Thalapathy Vijay’s next film, The Greatest of All Time, is already generating hype due to its name and reported budget of as much as ₹400 crore. While details are yet to be revealed, this Tamil movie is proving to be a visual and emotional ride.
7. Brahmāstra: Part One – Shiva – ₹375–400 Crore
A daring effort to start India’s cinematic universe, Brahmāstra: Part One – Shiva, ranged from ₹375 crore to ₹400 crore. With magic, mythology, and superhero-esque action, the film introduced something new to Bollywood and expanded the possibilities of genre storytelling within the industry.
8. Game Changer – ₹350–425 Crore
As the name itself indicates, this new Telugu movie is looking to shake up things. With a production budget of ₹350 crore to ₹425 crore, Game Changer is assuring us of top-class production value and the scale one does not often associate with political thrillers. The producers are going for broke, and fans are paying attention.
9. Singham Again – ₹350–375 Crore
Rohit Shetty’s cop universe is set to receive a turbo-charged new chapter in the form of Singham Again. With a budget said to be as high as ₹375 crore, the action should be bigger, noisier, and more over-the-top than before. Flying cars and humongous explosions are effectively a given.
10. Bade Miyan Chote Miyan – ₹350 Crore
Akshay Kumar and Tiger Shroff star in this high-octane action movie, which reportedly cost ₹350 crore to make. With international settings, high-gloss stunts, and over-the-top moments, it’s apparent that this film is aiming for blockbuster success.
Notable Mentions
A few more large-budget releases should be mentioned. Baahubali 2: The Conclusion shocked everyone with its ₹250 crore budget, while Saaho was at ₹325 crore. Kanguva, a new Suriya movie, is placed around ₹300–350 crore. Shah Rukh Khan’s Jawan and Salman Khan’s Tiger 3 also went over the ₹300 crore mark, highlighting just how far Indian cinema will go in the area of spectacle.
Regional Big Spenders
It’s not just Bollywood and the southern industries making waves—regional cinema is flexing its financial muscle too. Assamese film Mission China was made on ₹2 crore, while Bengali’s Amazon Obhijaan came in at ₹20 crore. Bhojpuri’s Sangharsh 2 cost around ₹6 crore, and Gujarati hit Bey Yaar was produced for ₹2.25 crore. Marathi, Meitei, Odia, and Punjabi films are also raising the bar, proving that cinematic ambition isn’t limited by geography.
How Indian Budgets Stack Up Against Hollywood
For context, Hollywood’s most costly film to the best of anyone’s knowledge, Star Wars: The Force Awakens, ran the bill at around $447 million—approximately ₹3,700 crore. Indian movies aren’t there just yet, but pieces like Kalki 2898 AD and Adipurush are not far behind. And considering the contrasts in market size and average ticket prices, the scale and ambition of these Indian ones become all the more astounding.
What’s Fueling the Big Spending?
There is a definite drift towards pan-Indian appeal, particularly in Tamil and Telugu cinema. Fans are lapping up spectacle-driven storytelling, and directors are addressing this with larger sets, greater effects, and higher stakes. The streaming revolution, international distribution, and fandom-driven franchises are also contributing to this. As Bollywood, Tollywood, and even Hollywood start to blend lines, one thing is certain: the age of the mega-budget Indian film is here, and it’s just going bigger.