Over the past three years, three of the highest-grossing Hindi films have had little in common in terms of genre and setting. One is a brutal revenge drama, another a pan-India action film, and the most recent, a historical epic. Despite these differences in narrative and industry, they share a common factor—Rashmika Mandanna as the female lead. The actress has been a part of Animal, Pushpa 2: The Rule, and Chhaava, all of which have dominated the box office.
Rashmika Mandanna’s Remarkable Box Office Achievement
Over the past 16 months, Rashmika has appeared in three theatrical releases, all of which have turned out to be massive blockbusters. Together, these films have amassed over ₹3300 crore at the box office, with Chhaava continuing to build on its ₹700-crore gross. What makes her success even more significant is that despite her roots in Kannada and Telugu cinema, she has managed to perform exceptionally well in the Hindi market. Each of these three films—Animal, Pushpa 2, and Chhaava—has set collection records in Hindi.
In terms of individual box office performance, Pushpa 2 earned ₹812 crore net in Hindi, Animal secured ₹503 crore, and Chhaava has already reached ₹532 crore. This combined total of ₹1850 crore positions Rashmika as the highest-grossing Bollywood star in recent times.
Outpacing Veterans and Peers
For years after Priyanka Chopra shifted her base to the U.S., Deepika Padukone remained Bollywood’s box office queen, facing some competition from Katrina Kaif and Kangana Ranaut. Among the newer generation, Alia Bhatt has managed to stay ahead of her peers. However, in the past two years, none have been able to match Rashmika’s success at the box office.
Deepika has come close, with her five films earning a cumulative ₹1800 crore in Hindi since 2023. Meanwhile, Alia’s films during the same period have grossed ₹300 crore domestically. This comparison highlights how Rashmika has outpaced not only her contemporaries but also established stars in the industry.
What Lies Ahead for Rashmika in 2025
Some may argue that these films’ success is largely due to the immense popularity of their male leads, but the same argument applies to Deepika and Kareena Kapoor’s films in the same period. The fact that Rashmika is now one of the top choices for major commercial films with superstar male leads reflects her growing influence in the industry.
Looking ahead, the actress is set to star alongside Salman Khan in Sikandar, a film that is expected to further elevate her box office standing. Additionally, she has Thama, a horror-comedy produced by Maddock Films, as well as Kubera, a pan-India action film, in the pipeline. At just 28 years old, Rashmika Mandanna’s career trajectory suggests that her dominance at the box office is only just beginning.