In recent years, Indian cinema has witnessed a resurgence of sequels, with filmmakers banking on iconic characters, nostalgic storytelling, and time-tested formulas to draw audiences. While sequels are a staple across industries, Bollywood has emerged as a frontrunner in creating and investing in franchise films.
The massive success of Gadar 2 reignited the excitement for follow-ups to legendary movies, paving the way for a flood of upcoming installments. Fans can look forward to highly anticipated titles like Border 2, Don 3, Welcome to the Jungle, and many more in the coming months.
Filmmakers have increasingly tapped into familiar stories, iconic characters, and well-loved cinematic universes to captivate audiences and ensure box-office success. Indian cinema has a rich history of delivering hit film franchises, proving that sequels can be just as captivating as the originals. Over the years, audiences have been treated to several sequels that not only lived up to expectations but sometimes even surpassed them.
Here’s a look at 10 of the most successful and memorable sequels that have left their mark on Indian cinema.
The second installment of the Pushpa franchise, Pushpa 2: The Rule, has once again demonstrated the power of a well-crafted, authentic story to win hearts. Pushpa: The Rise, released in 2021, captivated audiences nationwide with its gripping narrative, chart-topping songs, and Allu Arjun’s stellar performance, both in acting and dance. Now, after three years, its much-awaited sequel, released on December 5, is making waves globally. With a record-breaking opening of ₹175 crore on day two, the film has amassed ₹90.1 crore nett in India. Boasting an impressive two-day nationwide total of ₹265 crore nett, Pushpa 2 is poised to shatter more records in the days ahead.
Drishyam stands tall as one of the most celebrated franchises in Indian cinema. Originally made in Malayalam in 2013 with Mohan Lal in the lead, this crime thriller quickly became a cultural phenomenon, transcending regional boundaries. Its compelling narrative and brilliant performances led to remakes in Hindi and Telugu, with Ajay Devgn and Venkatesh reprising the iconic role of the clever protagonist. A masterclass in storytelling, Drishyam offers a gripping, edge-of-the-seat experience, cementing its place as a cinematic gem.
Rohit Shetty’s Singham Again, released on November 1, roared its way to success, becoming the third-biggest hit of the year. This third installment in Shetty’s cop universe reaffirms that the classic good-vs-evil formula never fails to resonate with the audience. The journey began with Singham in 2011, followed by Singham Returns in 2014, and over the years, the franchise has achieved cult status. Ajay Devgn’s portrayal of the fearless cop has become iconic, while the origins of this franchise trace back to the Tamil film of the same name, where Suriya first brought the character to life with equal impact.
Written and directed by Chandoo Mondeti, Karthikeya is a Telugu-language mystery thriller that starred Nikhil Siddhartha in the lead role and became one of the most loved films worldwide. Counted among the most successful film franchises in India, Karthikeya earned both critical acclaim and impressive box-office numbers. Its sequel, released in 2022, further elevated the franchise’s success. The Hindi-dubbed version contributed significantly to the film’s total gross, which stood at ₹91 crore in India, cementing its place as one of the biggest movie franchises.
Baahubali: The Beginning and Baahubali 2: The Conclusion are epic Telugu-language action films co-written and directed by S. S. Rajamouli. Starring Prabhas, Rana Daggubati, Tamannaah Bhatia, and Anushka Shetty in lead roles, the franchise is among the most successful and iconic in Indian cinema. These films not only shattered box-office records but also placed Telugu and Indian cinema on the global stage.
Following the films’ unprecedented success, Prabhas became one of the most sought-after actors in the country, while Rajamouli emerged as a visionary director with actors across regions eager to collaborate with him. The first installment grossed approximately ₹600 crore during its initial theatrical run, while the second installment, Baahubali 2: The Conclusion, earned an estimated ₹1,747–₹1,810.60 crore worldwide—a record yet to be surpassed by any other Indian film.
The 2007 psychological horror-comedy Bhool Bhulaiyaa is a remake of the 1993 Malayalam-language film Manichitrathazhu. Directed by Priyadarshan and starring Akshay Kumar, the movie was a blockbuster and remains celebrated as one of the best films of its time. Fifteen years later, in 2022, Anees Bazmee teamed up with Kartik Aaryan and Tabu to deliver a superhit sequel, Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2. This installment garnered a worldwide gross of ₹266.88 crore, becoming the highest-grossing film of the year. Riding on its success, the makers released a third installment in 2024, which achieved massive acclaim and raked in a staggering ₹421.02 crore globally.
Hindi comedy film series Golmaal has a cult fanbase across the nation. Hit director-actor duo Rohit Shetty and Ajay Devgn have given back-to-back blockbuster sequels to the original film Golmaal: Fun Unlimited, which was released in 2006 and was followed by 3 direct sequels: Golmaal Returns (2008), Golmaal 3 (2010), and Golmaal Again (2017). The film had some iconic scenes with legendary characters that are still cherished and often used in memes.
Kannada actor Yash-starrer period action film series created a storm upon its release in India in 2018. Directed by Prashanth Neel and produced by Hombale Films, KGF: Chapter 1 and KGF: Chapter 2 together generated a revenue of around ₹1,450 crore to ₹1,500 crore globally, making it the fourth Indian film to cross the ₹1,000 crore mark worldwide.
Set during the partition of India in 1947, Gadar: Ek Prem Katha starred Sunny Deol and Ameesha Patel and was a massive hit at the time. The story revolved around the love story between an Indian truck driver and a Pakistani girl. Directed by Anil Sharma, the film’s sequel, Gadar 2, was released in 2023, 23 years later. Not only did it evoke nostalgia, but it also became the highest-grossing film of the year, with Deol and Patel reprising their iconic roles. Gadar 2’s lifetime collection in India stood at ₹524.75 crore, while its worldwide revenue reached ₹691.08 crore.
Stree is a Hindi horror-comedy film directed by Amar Kaushik, starring Rajkummar Rao and Shraddha Kapoor in lead roles. Stree 2, released in August 2024, serves as a sequel to the blockbuster first installment, Stree (2018). Produced by Maddock Films, Stree 2 is the fourth installment in the Maddock Supernatural Universe. The film grossed ₹739.40 crore in India and ₹873.79 crore worldwide, making it the ninth-highest-grossing Indian film of all time. The first installment had a lifetime collection of ₹180 crore. Both films have been critically acclaimed.
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