2025 proved to be a predominantly positive year for the Hindi film sector. Saiyaara, featuring two newcomers in leading roles, rekindled the long-lost
allure of classic romance and became an unforeseen box-office triumph. Conversely, Ranveer Singh and Aditya Dhar’s Dhurandhar generated significant revenue, dominating the box office with unprecedented earnings. Nevertheless, alongside these successes, the year also presented its fair share of letdowns. Numerous eagerly awaited films, such as Sikandar and War 2, did not meet audience hopes, resulting in substantial box-office failures. Sikandar Despite soaring expectations, Sikandar was unable to convert Salman Khan’s star appeal into box-office triumph. Helmed by AR Murugadoss, this action-drama was produced with a hefty budget of Rs 200 crore but struggled to maintain viewer interest after its initial release. The film achieved a global gross of Rs 182.7 crore, with a domestic net of Rs 108.7 crore. Negative reviews and a lackluster storyline ultimately sealed its fate as a failure. Emergency Kangana Ranaut’s ambitious political film Emergency emerged as one of the most significant flops of 2025. Directed by the actress herself, the film sparked controversy but failed to attract audiences to cinemas. With a production budget of Rs 50 crore, it garnered only Rs 22.5 crore worldwide. Low attendance and limited appeal led to a catastrophic box-office outcome. War 2 One of the year's most awaited films, War 2, fell short of its lofty expectations despite a star-studded ensemble that included Hrithik Roshan, Jr NTR, and Kiara Advani. Directed by Ayan Mukerji, this high-budget spectacle reportedly cost Rs 400 crore to produce. While the film amassed Rs 360.7 crore globally and Rs 240.5 crore domestically, these figures were inadequate given its massive scale. Son of Sardaar 2 Ajay Devgn’s Son of Sardaar 2 was unable to replicate the charm or financial success of its predecessor. Co-starring Mrunal Thakur and Ravi Kishan, the sequel was produced with a budget of Rs 100 crore but received a tepid response from audiences. The film achieved a worldwide gross of Rs 65.8 crore, falling significantly short of expectations and ranking among the year’s notable disappointments. Baaghi 4 Tiger Shroff’s action series encountered difficulties with Baaghi 3. However, that did not deter the producers! Directed by Harsha and featuring Sanjay Dutt and Harnaaz Sandhu, the third installment struggled to engage viewers despite its typical high-energy action. With a production budget of Rs 80 crore, it only earned Rs 49.1 crore globally. Azaad Directed by Abhishek Kapoor and starring Ajay Devgn alongside Rasha Tandon and Aaman Devgan, this film turned out to be a clear box-office failure. With a budget of Rs 60 crore, it barely managed to earn Rs 9.8 crore worldwide. Lacking significant buzz and weak theatrical performance, the film failed to make any impact upon its release. These instances served as a reminder to Bollywood that mere hype does not ensure success. Now, let’s hope for better fortunes in 2026!
