In recent years, India’s film industry has been captivated by the success of major franchises such as Pushpa, Baahubali, and KGF. However, one Bollywood cinematic universe has quietly climbed to the apex of box office success, propelled by its association with three of Bollywood’s biggest stars—Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan, and Hrithik Roshan.
This universe, Yash Raj Films’ (YRF) Spy Universe, now holds the title of India’s highest-grossing film franchise, having accumulated an astounding ₹2,900 crore in global box office earnings.
The Films of the YRF Spy Universe
The YRF Spy Universe currently comprises five films:
- Three Tiger series movies (Ek Tha Tiger, Tiger Zinda Hai, and Tiger 3) starring Salman Khan.
- Hrithik Roshan’s action-packed War.
- Shah Rukh Khan’s blockbuster Pathaan.
Box Office Performance of Each Film
The franchise’s financial success is evenly distributed among its films. The Tiger series alone has contributed ₹1,366 crore to its global earnings. Shah Rukh Khan’s Pathaanemerged as a massive hit, bringing in ₹1,050 crore worldwide. Meanwhile, Hrithik Roshan’s War added ₹475 crore to the tally. Together, these films have propelled the total earnings of the YRF Spy Universe to ₹2,900 crore globally, as reported by Hindustan Times.
Origins of the YRF Spy Universe
The YRF Spy Universe was the brainchild of Aditya Chopra, who envisioned a franchise centered around Indian super spies. The journey began in 2012 with the release of Ek Tha Tiger, followed by Tiger Zinda Hai and War. Initially, these films were standalone projects with shared themes but no explicit connection.
The idea of a cohesive universe took shape during the pandemic, eventually leading to Pathaan in 2023, which marked the official unification of the franchise. The film introduced crossovers and cameos, cementing the foundation of the YRF Spy Universe. Later in 2023, Tiger 3 expanded the narrative further.
Comparing the YRF Spy Universe with Other Franchises
Before the YRF Spy Universe took center stage, Baahubali held the record as India’s highest-grossing franchise, earning over ₹2,300 crore from just two films. The Pushpa series joined this elite club with ₹2,000 crore from two installments, while KGF brought in ₹1,500 crore. Rohit Shetty’s Cop Universe, which amassed ₹1,430 crore, was previously the only franchise in the top five to include more than two films.
What sets the YRF Spy Universe apart is its innovative strategy of creating standalone films that interconnect to form a larger, cohesive narrative, rather than relying solely on sequels.
Future Prospects for the YRF Spy Universe
The YRF Spy Universe shows no signs of slowing down and is on track to surpass the ₹3,000-crore and ₹4,000-crore benchmarks. Two major releases are slated for this year.
First, War 2 is set to release in October, featuring Hrithik Roshan reprising his role as Kabir. This time, he faces off against Jr NTR, a move designed to tap into a pan-India audience. The film is widely anticipated to dominate the box office.
Following this, the franchise is set to break new ground with its first female-led installment, Alpha, slated for release on December 25. Starring Alia Bhatt and Sharvari, this marks a bold and exciting chapter for the YRF Spy Universe.
With such ambitious projects and its history of box office triumphs, the YRF Spy Universe seems poised to further solidify its dominance in the Indian cinematic landscape. As the franchise continues to grow, the question remains: just how high can this Bollywood espionage empire soar?
