Sep 01, 2026 7:00pm IST
Suriya, Emraan Hashmi, Ravi Teja: The Stars Who Roared Back at the Box Office in 2026
2026 has emerged as a standout year for the Indian box office, with several films emerging as winners. But beyond the year’s biggest successes, it has also been defined by a series of roaring comebacks from actors who endured prolonged box-office struggles before finding their groove again. From Suriya and Emraan Hashmi to Ravi Teja, several stars have turned the tide in 2026 with films that have struck a chord with cinegoers.
Suriya: ‘Karuppu’ and ‘Vishwanathan and Sons’
Suriya, fondly referred to as ‘Nadippin Nayagan’ by his fans, experienced a difficult theatrical phase between 2021 and 2025, delivering a string of box office failures, including “Etharkkum Thunindhavan,” “Kanguva,” and “Retro.” However, the actor made a striking turnaround in 2026, delivering two back-to-back ₹100 crore-plus hits with “Karuppu” (₹198.18 crore) and “Vishwanathan and Sons” (₹116.75 crore*).
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Emraan Hashmi: ‘Awarapan 2’
After facing a rough patch at the box office since 2023 with theatrical disappointments like “Ghanchakkar,” “Raja Natwarlal,” “Ungli,” “Mr. X,” “Hamari Adhuri Kahani,” “Azhar,” “Raaz: Reboot,” “Why Cheat India,” “The Body,” “Selfiee,” “Ground Zero” and “Haq,” Emraan Hashmi finally found success with “Awarapan 2.” The film also became his first ₹100 crore grosser as a solo hero. The musical action-drama currently stands at ₹148.43 crore*. With “Gunmaster G9” releasing in November, it remains to be seen if Hashmi can build on the momentum and continue his successful streak.
Ravi Teja: ‘Irumudi’
Ravi Teja also entered 2026 on the back of a prolonged box-office struggle. Over the past three years, his films such as “Ravanasura,” “Tiger Nageswara Rao,” “Eagle,” “Mr. Bachchan,” “Mass Jathara” and “Bhartha Mahasayulaku Wignyapthi” met with an underwhelming response at the ticket window. However, the ‘Mass Maharaja’ of the Telugu industry made a solid comeback with “Irumudi.” Interestingly, unlike Teja’s regular massy films, the Shiva Nirvana directorial was a family drama, which struck a chord with audiences.
Like Emraan Hashmi, Ravi Teja has also achieved his maiden ₹100 crore film as a lead actor with the film, which currently stands at ₹136.15 crore in the domestic market.
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