From Kaabil to Fighter, Hrithik Roshan's Box Office Journey In The Last Decade — A Road to War 2
BY SACNILK
Mumbai, August 14 - From the emotional depth of Kaabil to the mathematical genius of Super 30, the high-octane thrills of War, the layered storytelling of Vikram Vedha, and the groundbreaking aerial spectacle of Fighter, Hrithik Roshan's filmography over the past decade showcases a rare blend of versatility and star power. Each project has expanded his range — from intense drama to big-budget action — while strengthening his position as one of Indian cinema's most bankable and ambitious actors. With War 2 on the horizon, uniting him with director Ayan Mukerji in YRF's spy universe, the stage is set for yet another milestone in a career that continues to balance mass appeal with memorable performances. ##
Kaabil (2017) ##
Directed by Sanjay Gupta and produced by Rakesh Roshan, Kaabil is a romantic action thriller starring Hrithik Roshan and Yami Gautam, alongside Ronit Roy, Rohit Roy, and Narendra Jha. It tells the story of a visually impaired couple whose life is shattered after Supriya is assaulted; when the legal system fails them, Rohan meticulously hunts down those responsible. Hrithik prepared for the role by isolating himself for days to inhabit the character’s mindset. ##
Released in early 2017, the film drew praise for Hrithik's blend of vulnerability and vengeance, with Rajesh Roshan’s music and Salim–Sulaiman’s background score amplifying the emotional intensity. Notably, on February 2, 2017, Kaabil became the first Indian film to release in Pakistan after the lifting of the ban on Indian films following the 2016 Uri attack. In a gesture of admiration, Rakesh Roshan arranged a special screening of Kaabil for the legendary actor Rajinikanth, who praised both the trailer and Hrithik’s performance. At the box office, it recorded ₹104.34 crore India net, ₹145.8 crore India gross, and ₹32.3 crore overseas, for a worldwide total of ₹178.1 crore. ##
Super 30 (2019) ##
Directed by Vikas Bahl and written by Sanjeev Dutta, this biographical drama stars Hrithik Roshan as mathematician Anand Kumar, alongside Mrunal Thakur, Nandish Sandhu, and Pankaj Tripathi. It was the last movie produced by Phantom Films before the company disbanded amid internal controversies. The film tells the true story of Anand Kumar’s program training 30 underprivileged students for the IIT entrance exam. ##
It was filmed in Patna-inspired sets at Ramnagar Fort and at Banaras Hindu University, the first Hindi film to shoot there. Over 15,000 young actors were auditioned to portray the students. Just three days after its release, Super 30 was declared tax-free in Bihar, a gesture aimed at promoting its educational message. Subsequently, a record eight Indian states granted tax-free status—an exceptional feat for a commercial Bollywood film. The film grossed over ₹147.39 crore in India net, ₹171 crore in India gross, and ₹39 crore overseas, for a worldwide total of ₹210 crore, becoming the 12th highest-grossing Hindi film of 2019. ##
War (2019) ##
A Yash Raj Films production directed by Siddharth Anand, this action spectacle stars Hrithik Roshan as Kabir and Tiger Shroff as Khalid, with Vaani Kapoor, Ashutosh Rana, and Anupriya Goenka in supporting roles. The story follows Khalid, a loyal soldier, tasked with eliminating his former mentor Kabir, who has gone rogue. War was one of the most expensive Indian films ever made, featuring globe-trotting chase sequences and razor-sharp action that stood toe-to-toe with Hollywood standards. ##
Filmed across India and exotic locations in Portugal, Italy, Finland, Sweden, Georgia, and Australia, it famously became the first Indian film to shoot an action climax on the Arctic Circle, requiring a five-month wait for shooting permission. The production crew took three months to prep, and actual filming lasted six days. The movie emerged as the biggest blockbuster of the lot with ₹318.01 crore India net, ₹375 crore India gross, ₹96 crore overseas, and a worldwide total of ₹471 crore, making it the highest-grossing Bollywood film of 2019, noted for its breathtaking stunts, global scale, and slick choreography. ##
Vikram Vedha (2022) ##
This Hindi remake of the acclaimed Tamil film is directed by Pushkar–Gayathri and stars Hrithik Roshan as gangster Vedha and Saif Ali Khan as police officer Vikram, with Radhika Apte, Rohit Saraf, Yogita Bihani, and Sharib Hashmi in pivotal roles. The narrative follows Vikram’s pursuit of Vedha, who surrenders voluntarily and narrates morally complex stories that challenge Vikram’s black-and-white worldview. Shot across Abu Dhabi and Lucknow, the film blends neo-noir and thriller elements, with early casting rumours once linking Shah Rukh Khan to Vedha’s role. The movie fared moderately at the box office by wrapping its theatrical run with an India net collection of ₹78.90 Cr, an India gross collection of ₹93.10 Cr, and an overseas total of ₹42.34 Cr, resulting in a worldwide cumulative of ₹135.44 Cr. ##
Fighter (2024) ##
Starring Hrithik Roshan, Deepika Padukone and Anil Kapoor, along with Karan Singh Grover, Akshay Oberoi, and Rishabh Sawhney, the film follows an elite Indian Air Force squadron, "Air Dragons", assembled to counter a terrorist threat led by Azhar Akhtar. Mixing high-octane aerial combat with personal arcs and romance. The project was first revealed by Hrithik Roshan himself on his birthday, 10 January 2021, building early buzz. Directed by Siddharth Anand, Blending themes of patriotism and camaraderie, the film, originally slated for September 2022, was released on Republic Day 2024, marking Hrithik Roshan and Deepika Padukone’s first on-screen pairing in a feature film and showcasing some of the most ambitious VFX-driven aerial sequences ever seen in Indian cinema. ##
The film premiered on Republic Day weekend (25 January 2024), marking Deepika Padukone’s fourth release aligned with the national celebration—after Race 2 (2013), Padmaavat (2018), and Pathaan (2023). The movie solidified the third collaboration between Hrithik Roshan and director Siddharth Anand, each instalment spaced exactly five years apart: Bang Bang! (2014), War (2019), and now Fighter (2024). Fighter earned ₹212.75 crore in India net, ₹255 crore India gross, and ₹104 crore overseas, bringing its worldwide total to ₹359 crore. ##
War 2 (2025) ##
War 2 is the official sequel to the 2019 blockbuster War and the sixth instalment in the Yash Raj Films (YRF) Spy Universe. Directed by Ayan Mukerji and produced by Aditya Chopra, the film marked a notable shift in creative direction from the original's director, Siddharth Anand. Filming commenced in early 2024, covering multiple countries including Spain, Italy, Abu Dhabi, Japan, Russia, and India, with a projected budget nearing ₹400 crores. War 2 stakes its claim as one of the most expensive Indian spy thrillers ever made. The teaser dropped on Jr NTR’s birthday, highlighting a high-voltage face-off between Hrithik and Jr NTR, garnering significant social media buzz. The release also represented a cultural moment: not just Jr NTR's Bollywood debut but also a symbolic introduction of Hrithik to Telugu audiences.##
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