In just two years, Rashmika Mandanna has established herself as a dominant force in Indian cinema, outperforming Bollywood’s top actresses at the box office. With three back-to-back blockbusters—Animal, Pushpa 2: The Rule, and Chhaava—the 28-year-old star has amassed a staggering ₹3300 crore worldwide. Her remarkable success in the Hindi market, contributing ₹1850 crore in net collections, has set a new benchmark in the industry. Over the past 16 months, Rashmika’s three theatrical releases have shattered records. Pushpa 2: The Rule became a pan-India sensation, collecting ₹812 crore in the Hindi market alone. Saif Ali Khan resumes work after stabbing incident, looks fit and cheerful Animal, a high-octane action thriller, garnered ₹503 crore, while the historical drama Chhaava has already surpassed ₹532 crore, with numbers still climbing. This extraordinary streak positions her as Bollywood’s most bankable actress in recent times. Beating Bollywood Veterans For years, Deepika Padukone dominated the box office, particularly after Priyanka Chopra moved to Hollywood. Alia Bhatt, too, had been leading the new generation of actresses. However, Rashmika’s phenomenal rise has overshadowed them both. Since 2023, Deepika’s five major releases have amassed over ₹1800 crore in Hindi, while Alia’s films have grossed a mere ₹300 crore. This stark contrast highlights Rashmika’s unprecedented dominance. A Star Beyond the Male Leads Critics may argue that Rashmika’s success is largely due to her co-stars, but the same can be said for Deepika, Kareena Kapoor, and other leading actresses. Billboard names Doechii 2025 Woman of the Year Her consistent presence in high-grossing films suggests she has become the preferred choice for mass entertainers alongside superstars. Her versatility across different genres has further solidified her reputation. What’s Next? The actress shows no signs of slowing down. She will next be seen in Salman Khan’s Sikandar, which is expected to be another major box office hit. Additionally, she has signed on for Maddock’s horror-comedy Thama and the pan-India action film Kubera, ensuring her dominance continues well into 2025 and beyond. With inputs from Indian media

Indian cinema soared to new heights in 2024, delivering record-breaking blockbusters across multiple languages and industries. From gripping Telugu epics to thrilling Bollywood spectacles and groundbreaking Tamil dramas, these films redefined success at the box office. Let’s look at last year’s biggest hits and explore the diverse narratives that captivated audiences. 2024’s Top 10 Highest-earning Indian Movies  . Pushpa 2: The Rule | Telugu | Rs. 1,719.5 crore The action-packed drama helmed by Sukumar shattered records with its unparalleled earnings in India and beyond. Starring Allu Arjun, Rashmika Mandanna, and Fahadh Faasil, this cinematic spectacle marked a milestone as the first Hindi-dubbed release to cross Rs. 100 crore in its third week. This achievement is equivalent to BDT 141.4 crore (Rs 1 = BDT 1.41).  Produced under the banners of Mythri Movie Makers and Sukumar Writings, the film's staggering budget of Rs. 400 to 500 crore (BDT 565.6 crore to 707 crore) paid off as it became the second most successful production in Indian cinema. Released on December 5, 2024, it clinched the title of the highest-ever day-one collection while amassing over Rs. 1,163 crore (BDT 1644 crore) domestically and Rs. 556 crore (BDT 786 crore) internationally. Read more: Top 10 Highest-Grossing Movies of 2024: Global Blockbusters That Shaped Cinema Kalki 2898 AD | Telugu | Rs. 1,042-1,200 crore Blending mythological grandeur with futuristic elements, Nag Ashwin's epic achieved remarkable success as the biggest opener of 2024. With a stellar cast featuring Prabhas, Amitabh Bachchan, Kamal Haasan, and Deepika Padukone, this Vyjayanthi Movies production pushed boundaries with its Rs. 600 crore (BDT 848.4 crore) budget. Distributed by leading names like Annapurna Studios and AA Films, the film redefined cinematic scale. Its domestic earnings soared past Rs. 767 crore (BDT 1,084.5 crore), while its international appeal brought in Rs. 275 crore (BDT 388.8 crore). Released on June 27, 2024, it also ranked among the top three Indian movies for first-day grosses. Stree 2 | Hindi | Rs. 874.58 crore The comedy-horror gem, crafted under Amar Kaushik’s vision, achieved unparalleled success with a release on August 15, 2024, through PVR Inox Pictures and Pen Marudhar. Backed by Maddock Films and Jio Studios, it outperformed expectations with a modest budget of Rs. 50-120 crore (BDT 70.7 to 169.7 crore). Its domestic triumph, exceeding Rs. 739.40 crore (BDT 1,045.5 crore), was complemented by Rs. 134.30 crore (BDT 189.9 crore) from international markets. Read more: Popular Characters of Squid Game Season 2: Who's Your Favourite? Shraddha Kapoor and Rajkummar Rao headlined this blockbuster, which redefined Hindi cinema’s box office records for the year. The Greatest of All Time | Tamil | Rs. 440-457.12 crore Vijay's riveting action thriller, presented by AGS Entertainment, dominated the Tamil box office following its debut on September 5, 2024. Directed by Venkat Prabhu, the production leveraged a budget of Rs. 380-400 crore (BDT 537 to 565.6 crore) to deliver Rs. 298 crore (BDT 421.4 crore) domestically and Rs. 158 crore (BDT 223 crore) internationally. Credit for these worldwide distributions goes to Romeo Pictures, Sree Gokulam Movies, Mythri Movie Makers, Zee Studios, Ahimsa Entertainment, Hamsini Entertainment, and Hamsini Entertainment. Read more: January 2025 K-drama Lineup: 10 Must-watch Premieres Devara: Part 1 | Telugu | Rs. 403.83-521 crore The gripping action drama, led by N. T. Rama Rao Jr., made its mark as the third highest-grossing Telugu film of the year, following Pushpa 2 and Kalki 2898 AD. Released on September 27, 2024, it showcased Koratala Siva's directorial finesse, backed by Yuvasudha Arts and N. T. R. Arts with a significant budget of Rs. 200-300 crore (BDT 282.8 to 424.2 crore). With Rs. 208 crore (BDT 294 crore) earned domestically and an additional Rs. 200 crore (BDT 282.8 crore) internationally, its widespread appeal was undeniable. The movie boasts global distributions by Dharma Productions, AA Films, Sithara Entertainments, KVN Productions, SS Karthikeya, Prathyangira Cinemas, Hamsini Entertainment, Sri Lakshmi Movies, and Wayfarer Films.