BY Christa Lincy
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Dhurandhar On Your Mind? Here Are 7 Spy Universes You Need To Add To Your Watchlist Now
With Aditya Dhar preparing to take us on another covert mission in his upcoming film Dhurandhar, curiosity is naturally building around what the filmmaker has in store for us next. We all appreciate a solid espionage drama where the stakes are high and the patriots are fearless. But while we wait for that cinematic experience to hit the screens, it is the perfect time to revisit the best spy thrillers Bollywood has offered us so far. We have dug into the archives to bring you the ultimate watchlist, decoding the box office numbers of Indiaโs most notable covert operationsโfrom the gritty realism of Raazi to the high-octane action of War.
We start our list with the film that proved you don't need heavy artillery to make a Blockbuster; sometimes, you just need a brilliant script and Alia Bhatt. Released on May 11, 2018, Raazi was a massive return on investment. Made on a controlled Budget of โน 37.00 Cr, the film worked purely on emotion and thrill, earning a Verdict of BLOCKBUSTER. It went on to collect an impressive India Net Collection of โน 123.74 Cr and a Worldwide Gross Collection of โน 195.00 Cr. With an Overseas Collection of โน 37.00 Cr, this film showed that a female-led spy drama could rule the box office.
Next on the watchlist is the Neeraj Pandey directorial that redefined the cool factor of Indian intelligence. Released on January 23, 2015, Baby was a no-nonsense, song-less thriller that kept us on the edge of our seats. The film secured a HIT Verdict, raking in a Total Net Collection of โน 95.57 Cr domestically. Against a Budget of โน 59 Cr, the film managed an India Gross Collection of โน 129.02 Cr and a Worldwide Gross of โน 142.98 Cr. It remains a cult favorite for its realistic take on counter-terrorism.
Turning up the heat, we have Salman Khan and Katrina Kaif's Christmas gift from 2017 -Tiger Zinda Hai. This wasn't just a movie; it was a box office hunt. With a massive Budget of โน 210 Cr, the film roared loud with an India Net Collection of โน 339.16 Cr and a staggering Worldwide Collection of โน 558.00 Cr. The film was declared a BLOCKBUSTER, largely thanks to its massive mass appeal and a huge Overseas Collection of โน 124.23 Cr. When Tiger is on the prowl, records are meant to be broken.
Then came the King. Shah Rukh Khan returned to the big screen and rewrote history with Pathaan. This film is the biggest money-spinner on our list, earning the verdict of ALL TIME BLOCKBUSTER. With a lavish Budget of โน 250 Cr, the film decimated records with an India Net Collection of โน 543.09 Cr and an India Gross Collection of โน 657.5 Cr. The scale was truly global, evident from its Overseas Collection of โน 397.5 Cr, pushing the Worldwide Collection to a colossal โน 1055 Cr. It was the comeback of the decade.
Taking a detour from the massy entertainers, we land on the gritty and intelligent Madras Cafe. Starring John Abraham, this film was ahead of its time. Made on a distinct Budget of โน 34.00 Cr, it earned a Total Net Collection of โน 42.47 Cr and an India Gross of โน 57.33 Cr. While the trade gave it an AVERAGE Verdict due to its niche appeal, the Worldwide Gross of โน 66.71 Cr and its critical acclaim make it a must-watch for true cinema lovers who enjoy geopolitical drama over flying cars.
Before Pathaan, there was War. This stylish face-off between Hrithik Roshan and Tiger Shroff set the benchmark for action aesthetics in Bollywood. The film was a visual spectacle with a Budget of โน 150.00 Cr, and the audience loved it, crowning it a BLOCKBUSTER. It collected a massive India Net Collection of โน 318.01 Cr and an India Gross Collection of โน 375.00 Cr. The film also performed exceptionally well internationally, with an Overseas Collection of โน 96.00 Cr, bringing its Worldwide Collection to โน 471.00 Cr.
To complete our Top 7, we have to tip our hat to the one that started the spy universe craze. While we focused on the sequels and spin-offs above, the original Ek Tha Tiger deserves the final spot. It laid the foundation for the Blockbusters that followed (Tiger Zinda Hai, War, Pathaan). It established the formula of romance mixed with high-stakes espionage, making it the perfect movie to binge-watch to see where it all began!
So, there you have it! From the gritty realism of Madras Cafe to the high-flying stunts of Pathaan, Bollywood has given us a spy thriller for every mood. With such a strong legacy behind the genre, Aditya Dhar certainly has a high bar to match with Dhurandhar.
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