Bollywood movies have often surprised us with their content, casting, and sometimes even VFX! However, one cannot help but appreciate the efforts that the makers put into movies like Bramhastra for its VFX, Lagaan for being a historical sports movie, Dear Zindagi for spreading awareness about mental health, and Krrish for giving us a desi superhero that we all loved! Some Bollywood movies don’t need a massive budget – the script is enough to lure viewers to the cinema halls.
Here are 10 such small-budget Bollywood Movies that made it big at the Box Office.
1. Andhadhun
It is a fantastic crime comedy that will amaze you with its twists and leave you wondering what will happen next, thanks to its open ending. Starring Tabu, Ayushmann Khurrana, and Radhika Apte, the movie performed so well that filmmakers made many remakes. Amazingly, it earned Rs. 475 crore worldwide, despite being made on a budget of just INR 32 crore!
2. The Lunchbox
This sweet and straightforward movie cost only INR 22 crores to make but earned over INR 100 crores worldwide. Starring Irrfan Khan and Nimrat Kaur, the story follows the exchange of dabbas, or lunchboxes, between two households, which sparks a unique friendship between two strangers.
3. Queen
Queen captured hearts with the story of a small-town girl who traveled alone to Paris for her honeymoon after her groom ditched her. The film, primarily shot in scenic foreign locations, cost only INR 23 crores to make. It became a classic hit, earning INR 95 crores worldwide.
4. Pink
The movie was partially shot in Delhi, with some scenes also filmed at Mumbai Film City. It had an overall budget of Rs. 30 crores. But this feminist movie won the audience over with its theme about women’s safety and the thrill of the murder mystery. Surprisingly, Pink received a lot of praise from people, and it had 104 a gross collection of globally.
5. Stree
Not many Bollywood horror movies achieve success, let alone a horror comedy – it is a typical genre that is not easy to crack. Stree is a 2018 movie directed by Amar Kaushik, featuring Rajkummar Rao and Shraddha Kapoor in the lead roles, among others. A movie inspired by a real-life incident of a female spirit roaming around a small Indian town and taking away men who roam around alone at night. The movie had a budget of only Rs. 14 crores, and its worldwide collection amounted to almost INR 180 crores.
6. Hindi Medium
A comedy-drama about a couple fighting hard in today’s commercial and competitive world, to get their kid admission to one of the most prestigious schools in their city. While Irfan Khan and Deepak Dorbriyal’s comic timing made us ROFL, the emotional story broke our hearts too. It had a total budget of Rupees 22 crore and had a net collection of almost 70 crores in India and even had a very high collection in China.
7. Badhaai Ho
A family comedy-drama about a young man working in an MNC who introduces his girlfriend to his family- but the timing is wrong. His mom was pregnant with another sibling! It is a family entertainer that had a budget of Rs. 29 crores and went on to become one of the highest-grossing movies of 2018 and had a worldwide collection of Rs. 221 crores.
8. Kahaani
A suspense thriller movie in which Vidya Balan plays a mysterious protagonist whose every move will keep you on the edge of your seat. But, this mind-blowing thriller was produced with just a budget of Rs.8 crores and had a cross-box office collection of Rs. 91 crores- a big leap! The beautiful narrow lanes, the dark alleys, and the actors who gave killer performances- the movie was outstanding in every way possible.
9. Secret Superstar
The movie portrays the innocent dreams of a small-town girl aiming to become a rock star. Starring the Dangal father-daughter duo, Aamir Khan and Zaira Wasim, the determined heroine fights against all odds to achieve stardom. The film inspired many women in India and beyond. Made on a modest budget of just INR 15 crores, it earned an astounding INR 965 crores worldwide!
10. A Wednesday
This ambitious thriller drama stood out among all movies released in 2008. The story follows an ordinary man who shook Mumbai’s entire police department by calling to report a bomb planted in the city. Surprisingly, the film was made for just Rs. 5 crores and earned over INR 30 crores!
Never dismiss a small-budget movie- it could be your next big hit of the year!
