Indian cinema has embraced the film franchise model, with the YRF Spy Universe leading the charge as the highest-grossing Indian film franchise. The franchise has collectively earned around ₹2900 crore globally from five films, including the record-breaking Pathaan, starring Shah Rukh Khan, which grossed ₹1050 crore. The Tiger series, featuring Salman Khan, added ₹1366 crore, while War, starring Hrithik Roshan, brought in ₹475 crore.
The YRF Spy Universe, created by Aditya Chopra, is centered around a group of super spies from India, each with their own standalone films. While the franchise began retroactively with Ek Tha Tiger (2012), it only fully formed after the pandemic with the 2023 releases Pathaan and Tiger 3, which included crossovers and cameos to bring the universe together.
Before the Spy Universe, Baahubali held the crown as the highest-grossing Indian franchise, grossing over ₹2300 crore from two films. Other notable franchises include Pushpa (₹2000 crore), KGF (₹1500 crore), and Rohit Shetty’s Cop Universe (₹1430 crore). What sets the YRF Spy Universe apart is its ability to sustain itself with multiple standalone films within the universe, a model that has proven successful with the star power of Shah Rukh Khan and Salman Khan.
Looking ahead, the YRF Spy Universe is set to surpass ₹3000 crore and even reach ₹4000 crore with two major upcoming releases: War 2 (starring Hrithik Roshan and Jr NTR) in October, and Alpha, the first female-led film of the universe, starring Alia Bhatt and Sharvari, releasing on December 25.
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