- Monday, March 10, 2025
Trade experts hope that Salman Khan’s “Sikandar” Aamir Khan’s “Sitaare Zameen Par” and Kangana Ranaut’s “Emergency” will revive the box office after a lacklustre 2024
By: India Weekly
THE HINDI film industry is banking on a strong 2025 lineup, with franchise films and star-driven projects poised to revive the box office after a challenging 2024.
The year’s biggest hope lies with Salman Khan’s “Sikandar”, releasing during Eid in March.
In addition to “Sikandar”, the year is set to feature high-profile films like “War 2”, “Raid 2”, and “Housefull 5”.
Trade experts see these films as potential game-changers. “If you compare the releases with 2024, which was held together by a few hits like ‘Pushpa 2’ and ‘Stree 2’, 2025 looks brighter,” said Akshay Rathi, a distributor and exhibitor.
The second half of the year brings sequels to popular titles such as “Jolly LLB 3”, “Baaghi 4”, and “Son of Sardaar 2”.
Films like Aamir Khan’s “Sitaare Zameen Par” and Kangana Ranaut’s “Emergency” are also expected to draw significant attention.
Cinema Owners and Exhibitors Association of India President Nitin Datar expressed cautious optimism, saying, “2025 looks good, but it’s tough to predict which films will succeed. Films like ‘Housefull 5’, ‘Emergency’, and ‘Chhaava’ stand out in the lineup.”
Trade analyst Taran Adarsh, while acknowledging the audience fatigue with remakes, emphasised the need for original content. “We’ve learned an important lesson: we need to concentrate on content and move away from remakes,” he said.
With diverse releases and the promise of improved quality, trade experts predict a 15-20 per cent growth in box office collections for 2025, giving exhibitors renewed hope for a strong year ahead.
