When Sholay was released in theatres in 1975, it became a national sensation. Across India, it shattered box office records and ran to packed houses in more than 50 cities. Yet, despite being the most successful Indian film of its time, Sholay was outperformed in certain regions by a low-budget devotional film, Jai Santoshi Maa. With profits nearly 100 times its cost, Sholay set a benchmark for Indian cinema that remained unmatched for decades.
This year, a simple Gujarati film without any superstar achieved what few films ever have. It delivered returns exceeding 150 times its budget, surpassing even major blockbusters such as Saiyaara and Kantara: Chapter One in terms of profitability.
A film that delivered extraordinary profits
Released in October, the Gujarati devotional film Laalo: Krishna Sada Sahayate has emerged as one of the biggest success stories of the year. Produced on a modest budget of Rs 50 lakh, the film has already grossed approximately Rs 75 crore worldwide, translating into a staggering 150-fold return on investment. This achievement places it among the most profitable Indian films ever made.
Outperforming major blockbusters
Even the highest-grossing Indian films of the year fall short when compared by profit margins. Kantara: Chapter One earned around Rs 850 crore against a budget of Rs 125 crore, while Chhaava collected Rs 808 crore on a budget of Rs 90 crore. Other notable successes, such as Mahavatar Narasimha and Lokah earned roughly eight to ten times their respective budgets, impressive figures that still trail far behind Laalo’s unprecedented profitability.
Story and cast of Laalo
Directed by Ankit Sakhiya, Laalo follows the journey of a rickshaw puller who becomes stranded at a farmhouse, where he confronts his past and experiences a divine vision of Lord Krishna. The film stars Riva Rachh, Shruhad Goswami, Karan Joshi, and Mishti Kadecha. Within just three weeks of release, it became the highest-grossing Gujarati film of all time, and as of November 26, six weeks after its release, its box office collections continue to grow.
