List of Top 10 Most Expensive Indian Films – In Indian cinema today, there are hundreds of films released every year across different film industries like Bollywood, Tollywood, Kollywood, Sandalwood, etc.
From the creation to promotion, marketing, and publicity campaigns it costs too much money to make a film.
All the figures mentioned in this post will be the producer’s figures.
List of 10 Most Expensive Indian Films of All-time
| Rank | Title | Year | Budget (est.) | Primary language |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2.0 | 2018 | ₹570 crores (US$83.35 million) | Tamil |
| 2 | RRR | 2022 | ₹550 crores (US$69 million) | Telugu |
| 3 | Ponniyin Selvan: I | 2022 | ₹467 crores (US$57 million) | Tamil |
| 4 | Brahmāstra: Part One – Shiva | 2022 | ₹410 crores (US$51 million) | Hindi |
| 5 | Saaho | 2019 | ₹350 crores (US$49.7 million) | Telugu |
| 6 | Radhe Shyam | 2022 | ₹300 crores (US$38 million) | Telugu |
| 7 | Baahubali 2: The Conclusion | 2017 | ₹250 crores (US$31 million) | Telugu |
| 8 | 83 | 2021 | ₹225 crores (US$28 million) | Hindi |
| 9 | Thugs of Hindostan | 2018 | ₹200 crores (US$29.24 million) | Hindi |
| 10 | Sye Raa Narasimha Reddy | 2019 | ₹200 crores (US$28.4 million) | Telugu |
1. 2.0 – ₹570 crores (US$83.35 million)
2.0 is the second installment of Enthiran. It is a 2018 Indian Tamil-language science fiction action film directed by S. Shankar. Shankar also co-wrote the film with B. Jeyamohan and Madhan Karky.
2.0 is Produced by Subaskaran under the banner of Lyca Productions, featuring Rajinikanth reprising the roles of Vaseegaran and Chitti the Robot, along with Akshay Kumar and Amy Jackson.
It is the most expensive Indian film ever made with a budget of ₹570 crores which translates to $83.35 million.
2. RRR – ₹550 crores (US$69 million)
RRR is an Indian period action drama film, directed by S. S. Rajamouli and produced by D. V. V. Danayya on the DVV Entertainment banner.
The film features N. T. Rama Rao Jr., Ram Charan, and Alia Bhatt in the lead roles. The film is a fictional story set in the pre-Independence era in India.
It is based on the lives of two freedom fighters, Alluri Sitarama Raju and Komaram Bheem, who fought against the British Raj.
RRR is one of the most expensive Indian films ever made with a total production budget of ₹550 crores which is equivalent to US$69 million at the time of release.
3. Ponniyin Selvan: I – ₹467 crores (US$57 million)
Based on a novel of the same name, Ponniyin Selvan: I is an Indian Tamil-language epic historical film directed by Mani Ratnam, who wrote it in collaboration with Elango Kumaravel and B. Jeyamohan.
The film has an ensemble cast of Vikram, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Jayam Ravi, Karthi, Trisha, Jayaram, Aishwarya Lekshmi, Sobhita Dhulipala, Prabhu, R. Sarathkumar, Vikram Prabhu, Prakash Raj, Rahman, R. Parthiban and Lal.
The film is set around the 10th-century king Rajaja Chola and it is made with an estimated budget of ₹467 crores making it one of the most expensive movies in India.
4. Brahmāstra: Part One – Shiva – ₹410 crores (US$51 million)
Brahmāstra Part One -shiva is an Indian action fantasy film directed by Ayan Mukerji and produced by Karan Johar released on 9 September 2022. The film stars Ranbir Kapoor and Alia Bhatt in lead roles. The film is the first part of a planned trilogy.
The film was initially scheduled to release in December 2019 but was pushed back to March 2020 due to production delays. However, the film’s release was further delayed due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.
It is one of the most expensive Indian films ever made with a total budget of ₹410 crores which is equivalent to US$51 million.
5. Saaho – ₹350 crores (US$49.7 million)
Saaho is an Indian action thriller film written and directed by Sujeeth, and produced by UV Creations and T-Series. The film stars Prabhas and Shraddha Kapoor. It is also being shot simultaneously in Hindi, Tamil, and Telugu languages.
The film is set against the backdrop of a power struggle in the fictional city of Wanda, which is a hub of international business. The plot revolves around an undercover police officer who tries to track down a group of criminals.
The film is being shot in a number of locations including Hyderabad, Mumbai, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Romania. With a budget of ₹350 crores which translates to US$49.7 million at the time of release, making it is one of the most expensive Indian films ever made.
6. Radhe Shyam – ₹300 crores (US$38 million)
Radhe Shyam is an Indian romance film written and directed by Radha Krishna Jagarlamudi. The film stars Prabhas and Pooja Hegde.
The film is Produced by Vyjayanthi Movies and shot simultaneously in Telugu, Tamil, and Hindi languages.
The story is set in Europe and revolves around the love story of a Telugu boy and a Tamil girl. The film’s title was inspired by a popular song from the film Premam. The film’s shooting began in September 2017 in Hyderabad.
With good visuals and exotic shooting locations, the film costs around ₹300 crores or $38 million, making it one of the most expensive Indian films of all time.
7. Baahubali 2: The Conclusion – ₹250 crores (US$38 million)
Baahubali 2: The Conclusion is the second part of the fantasy epic film Baahubali: The beginning. The movie was released in 2017 and directed by S. S. Rajamouli.
The epic film was produced by Shobu Yarlagadda and Prasad Devineni under the production house Arka Media Works. The film was made in Tollywood (Telegu Film Industry) and was filmed in both Telugu and Tamil languages simultaneously.
The film has an ensemble cast of Prabhas, Rana Daggubati, Anushka Shetty, Tamannaah, Ramya Krishna, Sathyaraj, Nassar, and Subbaraju. It is one of the highest-grossing Tollywood movies as well as one of the most expensive films in India.
8. 83 – ₹225 crores (US$28 million)
83 is a Bollywood sports drama film, released in 2021, written and directed by Kabir Khan. The film is produced by Deepika Padukone, Kabir Khan, Vishnu Vardhan Induri, Sajid Nadiadwala, Reliance Entertainment.
Based on the India national cricket team’s 1983 cricket world cup win led by Kapil Dev. The film’s story and dialogues were by Kabir Khan, Sanjay Puran Singh Chauhan, Vasan Bala, and Sumit Arora.
This movie has an ensemble cast of stars like Ranveer Singh, Deepika Padukone, Jiiva, Pankaj Tripathi, Tahir Raj Bhasin, Saqib Saleem, Jatin Sarna, Chirag Patil, Dinker Sharma, etc.
Made with a budget of ₹225 crores which is equivalent to $28 million, it is one of the most expensive Indian films of all time.
9. Thugs of Hindostan – ₹200 crores (US$29.24 million)
The Thugs of Hindostan is a 2018 Indian action-adventure film written and directed by Vijay Krishna Acharya, and produced by Aditya Chopra under his banner Yash Raj Films.
The film stars Amitabh Bachchan, Aamir Khan, Katrina Kaif, Fatima Sana Shaikh, and Lloyd Owen. It is the first film to be shot in IMAX format in India.
The film was released on 8 November 2018, and received mixed reviews from critics, with praise for its direction, visuals, and performances, but criticism for its writing, length, and lack of originality. With a budget of ₹200 crores, it is one of the most expensive films in India.
10. Sye Raa Narasimha Reddy – ₹200 crores (US$28.4 million)
Sye Raa Narasimha Reddy is a 2019 Indian epic action film based on the life of freedom fighter Uyyalawada Narasimha Reddy from the Rayalaseema region of Andhra Pradesh.
The film was directed by Surender Reddy and produced by Ram Charan on a budget of ₹200 crores. It stars Chiranjeevi, Amitabh Bachchan, Sudeep, Vijay Sethupathi, Jagapathi Babu, Ravi Kishan, and Nayanthara in the lead roles.
It is one of the most expensive Indian films ever made with a production budget of $28.4 million.
