Sep 09, 2026 2:09pm IST
From ‘Hanuman Ansh,’ ‘Premalu’ To ‘Sairat’: Most Profitable Films In Indian Cinema History
Amid the clutter of cinematic spectacles and big-screen actioners, “Hanuman Ansh,” a small devotional film, arrived in cinemas on August 7, 2026, and changed the business dynamics with a massive box-office collection.
Based on the life of Neem Karoli Baba, the film has emerged as the most profitable in Indian cinema history. Here’s a look at the movies that delivered the highest ROI (Return on Investment) in the domestic market.
‘Hanuman Ansh’
Made on a budget of around ₹2 crore, the Shobhinaw Satyaa-starrer currently stands at ₹143.24 crore at the box office. With an astounding ROI of 7,062%, the film produced and directed by Vishal Chaturvedi tops this list.
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‘Premalu’
The Naslen and Mamitha Baiju-starrer romantic comedy, which was released in 2024, hit the bullseye with its coming-of-age theme, which resonated with youth. The ₹3 crore project raked in ₹75.64 crore, which translated into 2,421.33% ROI.
‘Romancham’
The 2023 Malayalam horror-comedy, featuring an ensemble cast led by Soubin Shahir, Arjun Ashokan, Sajin Gopu, Siju Sunny, Chemban Vinod Jose, Abin Bino, Anantharaman Ajay, and Afsal P. H, was one of the sleeper hits of 2023. Made on a shoestring budget of ₹1.75 crore, it collected ₹38.73 crore, giving it an ROI of 2,112%.
‘Sairat’
The 2016 social romantic tragedy film directed by Nagraj Manjule, which is considered one of the iconic Marathi films in recent times, struck a chord with its target audience because of its story, performances and music. The 2016 film, featuring Rinku Rajguru and Akash Thosar, collected ₹ 80.98 crore against its ₹4 crore budget, delivering a 1,924.5% ROI.
‘Kantara’
The 2022 folklore action thriller from the Kannada industry became a pan-India blockbuster. Written and directed by Rishab Shetty, the film also featured him in a lead role. Made with a modest budget of ₹16 crore, it earned ₹309.64 crore, taking its ROI to 1,835.25%.
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