It shows that some smaller-budget films made higher profits than big-budget ones. (Photo Credit: X)

Indian cinema has seen massive growth over the years, with films now earning hundreds and even thousands of crores worldwide. Big stars, grand visuals, and pan-India releases have pushed movies beyond regional limits. As budgets grow larger, so do expectations from audiences and producers alike.

Amid this trend, a post listing the top 11 highest-grossing Indian films has caught attention online. The list compares worldwide earnings with production budgets and shows how much profit each film made. The post is now being widely discussed on Reddit.

A Reddit Post Compares Budgets And Box Office Returns

The Reddit post shared a detailed table titled “Top 11 Highest-Grossing Indian Films (Worldwide Investment & Return Comparison)”. It ranks films based on worldwide box office collections and compares them with their estimated budgets and profits.

Dangal (2016)

At the top of the list is Dangal (2016). Made on a reported budget of Rs 70 crore, the film earned around Rs 2,070 crore worldwide. This gave it an estimated profit of Rs 2,000 crore, making it the most profitable film on the list despite its relatively small budget.

Baahubali 2: The Conclusion (2017)

Second on the list is Baahubali 2: The Conclusion (2017). The film had a much higher budget of Rs 250 crore but still made a massive Rs 1,810 crore globally, with an estimated profit of Rs 1,560 crore.

The caption below the post reads, “Looking at the stats for the highest earners in Indian cinema history.” It further adds, “Is the ‘Mega-Budget’ era sustainable, or were the mid-budget stories like Bajrangi Bhaijaan more impressive in their reach?”

Check the post here:

Big-Budget Films Dominate Recent Years

Recent entries on the list show a clear shift toward higher budgets. Pushpa 2: The Rule (2024) reportedly cost Rs 400 crore and earned Rs 1,780 crore. RRR (2022), made on a budget of Rs 550 crore, collected Rs 1,316 crore worldwide.

KGF: Chapter 2 stands out for its strong return, earning Rs 1,215 crore against a Rs 100 crore budget. Films like Jawan and Pathaan, both released in 2023, also feature in the top ranks with budgets ranging between Rs 250–300 crore.

Mid-Budget Films Still Show Strong Impact

The list also includes films that were not made on massive budgets but still performed very well. Bajrangi Bhaijaan (2015), made for about Rs 90 crore, earned Rs 910 crore worldwide. Animal (2023) also delivered strong returns with a budget of Rs 200 crore and earnings of Rs 918 crore.

At number 11 is Dhurandhar (2025), with earnings of Rs 877 crore against a Rs 225 crore budget.