Oct 11, 2026 4:00pm IST
From Deepika Padukone to Shraddha Kapoor and Rashmika Mandanna: Hindi Actresses Who Deliver ₹50 Crore-Plus Openers
Hindi cinema’s A-listers are known for delivering big openers and grossers at the box office because of their star power. While male stars are generally considered the biggest reason for drawing audiences to cinema halls, in recent times even female actresses have played a pivotal role in getting films a surplus opening due to their fanbase and meaty characters.
Deepika Padukone: ‘Pathaan’ and ‘Jawan’
Deepika Padukone is the only Hindi actress to deliver two 50+ crore openers with “Pathaan” (₹55 crore) and “Jawan” (₹65.50 crore) and interestingly, both films were opposite Shah Rukh Khan. Ultimately, both crossed the ₹500 crore mark in the domestic market and emerged as two of the biggest grossers in Indian cinema.
Nayanthara: ‘Jawan’
The ‘Lady Superstar’ of Tamil cinema made her Hindi debut with the Atlee-directed film opposite SRK. Besides getting a bumper opening in northern parts of the country, the action-thriller received a phenomenal response in Tamil Nadu due to Nayanthara’s stardom.
Rashmika Mandanna: ‘Animal’
Rashmika’s character, Geethanjali played an emotional anchor in Ranbir Kapoor-Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s project. The action drama raked in ₹54.75 crore on the first day and eventually emerged as the first Hindi film with an ‘A’ certificate to enter the ₹500 crore club.
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Shraddha Kapoor: ‘Stree 2’
Shraddha Kapoor’s presence was one of the biggest driving forces in attracting maximum footfalls, along with the intrinsic franchise value. The horror-comedy registered ₹51.80 crore on its opening day, despite clashing with two prominent Hindi releases, including “Khel Khel Mein” and “Vedaa.”
Other Hindi films co-starring female actresses, including “Dhurandhar: The Revenge” (Sara Arjun), “Drishyam: The Conclusion” (Shriya Saran and Tabu), “War” (Vaani Kapoor) and “Thugs of Hindostan” (Katrina Kaif and Fatima Sana Shaikh), also achieved the milestone of a ₹50 crore opening, but the crux of the story was built on male protagonists.
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