Indian cinema is no longer the film industry we knew and grew up with. Over the past decade, it has witnessed a dramatic transformation, not just in terms of storytelling, visuals or music, but also in scale, ambition, and most importantly, budget. Filmmakers and producers are no longer shying away from putting hundreds of crores into a single project to make a truly larger-than-life experience on screen. From grand sets and cutting-edge VFX to international collaborations and star-studded casts, these filmmakers are going the extra mile to compete on a global stage, not just in terms of the appeal of the movie, but also in the budget. From mythological epics like Ramayana to high-octane blockbusters like RRR, here’s a look at nine of the most expensive Indian films ever made. Some numbers will surprise you.
Most expensive films made in India
Ramayana
Touted to be the most expensive film ever made in India, Nitesh Tiwari’s Ramayana is far ahead of all the other movies on this list by a huge margin. Earlier, reports suggested that each part of the two-part saga was being made on a budget of Rs 800 crore, amounting to Rs 1,600 crore in total. However, the film’s producer recently revealed that the actual budget exceeds Rs 4,000 crore, making it the clear frontrunner on this list.
RRR
Featuring a stellar cast of NTR Jr., Ram Charan, Ajay Devgn, and Alia Bhatt, this Rajamouli magnum opus had a massive budget of Rs 550 crore. It went on to earn Rs 1,275.51 crore worldwide and won an Oscar for Naatu Naatu in the Best Original Song category.
Kalki 2898 AD
Made on a budget of Rs 600 crore, Kalki was touted as India’s most expensive film in the year 2024. Starring Amitabh Bachchan, Kamal Haasan, Prabhas, Deepika Padukone, and Disha Patani, among others, it grossed Rs 1,200 crore. Kalki became the fourth highest-grossing Indian film and is expected to have a sequel soon.
Robot 2.0
The sequel to Rajinikanth’s blockbuster Robot, 2.0 was made on a budget of Rs 570 crore and was considered a mammoth investment in the year 2018. Starring Rajinikanth, Akshay Kumar, and Amy Jackson, the film was a massive success, earning Rs 100 crore in its first week alone. It went on to collect Rs 667.50 crore in India and Rs 800 crore worldwide.
Adipurush
In the year 2023, the film grabbed headlines for its massive investment in animation and new-age filmmaking. Following the immense success of Baahubali, this was Prabhas’ highly anticipated next venture. Made on a budget of Rs 500 crore, the film opened to strong numbers, but negative reviews and word of mouth soon impacted its performance. It earned Rs 135.04 crore domestically, with a worldwide gross of Rs 388.35 crore.
Brahmastra
Ranbir Kapoor and Alia Bhatt’s Brahmastra was in the news for several years. While the film eventually made headlines for Ranbir and Alia’s romance, its budget was also a hot topic. Made on a budget of Rs 410 crore, Brahmastra grossed a total of Rs 431 crore worldwide across all formats.
Ponniyin Selvan: Part 1 and 2
The two-part film was made on a combined budget of Rs 500 crore. Ponniyin Selvan: Part 1 earned Rs 480 crore worldwide at the box office, while Ponniyin Selvan: Part 2 earned over Rs 300 crore globally—making the franchise a box office success.
G.O.A.T (The Greatest of All Time)
This Rs 380 crore film, starring Vijay, Prashanth, and Prabhu Deva, earned Rs 464.54 crore worldwide, becoming the fifth highest-grossing Tamil film of all time.
