A film made with just 15 crores has earned over 900 crores

The question has sparked debate among fans and analysts for decades. Some consider a film’s longevity and cultural impact as key factors, while others emphasize box office collections.

However, box office numbers themselves are not always consistent.

One theory is to look at which film earned the most money, while another considers profitability as the true measure of success.

In terms of profit, India’s most successful film is one in which a 16-year-old girl played the lead and earned a 6000% profit.

Released in 2017, Advait Chandan’s Secret Superstar is the most profitable Indian film to date.

Produced by Aamir Khan, the film was made on a budget of just 15 crores. After its release in India, the film earned 64 crores (net) and 90 crores in total business.

In the international market, it earned an additional 65 crores, making it a major success.

But when Secret Superstar was released in China, all records were broken.

In China, the film earned over 124 million dollars, pushing its global earnings beyond 900 crores.

In this way, the film made 60 times more than its original cost, surpassing the record set by J. Santosh’s film Maa, which earned 20 times its investment.

There are different reports on Secret Superstar’s earnings—some say it made 966 crores globally, while others claim it earned 905 crores.

However, even with the lower figures, the film outperformed major films like Stree 2 (857 crores), PK (769 crores), Gadar 2 (691 crores), and Baahubali: The Beginning (617 crores).

Secret Superstar defeated these big-budget films with its small budget, showcasing its extraordinary success.

Moreover, the film didn’t feature any major stars. Aamir Khan had just a cameo, while the story revolved around 16-year-old Zaira Wasim.

According to film analysts, the film’s success in China was largely due to the post-Dangal popularity of Aamir Khan and Zaira Wasim, as well as the film’s story of young dreams connecting with the Chinese audience.

As of November 2024, Secret Superstar still ranks as the 10th highest-grossing Indian film worldwide.