The first quarter of the calendar year 2024 brought about significant changes in the Bollywood movie landscape compared to the same period in 2023. While some content-driven films with smaller budgets saw commercial success, the overall industry dynamics differed. Let’s look into the performance of major Bollywood releases in Q1.
The year kicked off with the big-budget spectacle “Fighter,” directed by Siddharth Anand and starring Hrithik Roshan, Deepika Padukone, and Anil Kapoor. With a budget of 250 crore rupee, the film raked in 358.83 crore rupee at the box office.
Following suit was “Teri Baaton Mein Aisa Uljha Jiya,” featuring Shahid Kapoor and Kriti Sanon, directed by Amit Joshi and Aradhana Sah. Despite a smaller budget, the film garnered 141.25 crore rupee in collections.
“Article 370” proved to be a profitable venture for its makers, boasting an impressive return on investment. Made with 20 crore rupee, the film directed by Aditya Suhas Jambhale grossed over 100 crore rupee worldwide. Similarly, Vikas Bahl’s “Shaitaan,” starring R Madhavan and Ajay Devgn, amassed nearly 200 crore rupee on a budget of 65 crore rupee.
The cumulative budget of Bollywood movies with theatrical releases in Q1CY24 amounted to around ₹710 crore. However, this figure excludes movies with collections below 1 crore rupee. The major releases collectively amassed approximately 1,040 crore rupee, indicating a profit margin of around 46.48%. This number is expected to rise further as movies like “Crew,” released in late March, continue their theatrical run.
In stark contrast, the first quarter of 2023 saw Shah Rukh Khan’s “Pathaan” dominating the box office with a staggering collection of 1,055 crore rupee. Directed by Siddharth Anand and featuring Deepika Padukone and John Abraham, the film surpassed the combined business of all major Q1CY24 releases. With a budget of 240 crore rupee, “Pathaan” emerged as a massive success.
Other notable releases in Q1CY23 included “Tu Jhoothi Main Makkaar,” directed by Luv Ranjan and starring Ranbir Kapoor and Shraddha Kapoor. Despite a budget of 180 crore rupee, the romantic comedy garnered ₹223 crore worldwide. Ajay Devgn’s “Bholaa,” made with 100 crore rupee, earned 123 crore rupee, while “Mrs. Chatterjee vs Norway,” featuring Rani Mukerji, collected 38.3 crore rupee after a budget of 25 crore rupee.
The total budget for major releases in Q1CY23 was approximately 730 crore rupee, with a cumulative collection exceeding 1,500 crore rupee, translating to a profit margin of over 105%. The absence of the Shah Rukh Khan factor in Q1CY24 made a noticeable impact on Bollywood’s business landscape. No movie managed to cross the 500-crore rupee mark during this period, highlighting the significant influence of star power on box office performance.
