Top 5 Highest-Budget Bollywood Movies

Bollywood’s been flexing its wallet lately, pumping massive budgets into films that aim to dazzle with scale, stars, and special effects. From mythological epics to action-packed blockbusters, these movies are some of the priciest ever made in Indian cinema.

Adipurush - Budget: Rs 500 crore

This one’s a big swing at retelling the Ramayana, directed by Om Raut. It’s got Prabhas playing Raghav (aka Lord Rama), Kriti Sanon as Janaki (Sita), and Saif Ali Khan as the villain Lankesh (Ravana). Dropping in 2023, the film went all-in with fancy CGI and huge sets to make the epic feel modern. The massive budget paid for all that plus a stacked cast. Sadly, it got flak for wonky effects and some clunky dialogue, which hurt its box office run. Still, it’s one of Bollywood’s boldest bets to go big and reach everyone.

The Good Maharaja - Budget: Rs 400 crore

Directed by Vikash Verma, this historical drama digs into the real-life story of the Maharaja of Jamnagar, who saved over 1,000 Polish kids during World War II. Sanjay Dutt leads the cast, with Nitu Chandra and Gulshan Grover along for the ride. The budget went toward recreating 1940s India and Poland, with detailed sets and costumes to match. It’s a lesser-known tale that the filmmakers wanted to tell on a grand scale, mixing Indian pride with a story that hits home globally.

Brahmastra: Part One - Shiva - Budget: Rs 375–400 crore

Ayan Mukerji’s fantasy flick from 2022 is the kickoff to his planned Astraverse trilogy. Ranbir Kapoor stars as Shiva, a guy who finds out he’s got superpowers, alongside Alia Bhatt as Isha and Amitabh Bachchan as a wise guide. It’s about protecting a mystical weapon called the Brahmastra. The budget got eaten up by top-notch visual effects and epic action scenes, plus years of production work. Some folks thought the story was meh, but the visuals were a game-changer for Bollywood, and it did solid business at the box office.

Singham Again - Budget: Rs 350–375 crore

Rohit Shetty’s back with another Cop Universe banger, released in 2024. Ajay Devgn’s back as Bajirao Singham, joined by heavyweights like Akshay Kumar, Deepika Padukone, Ranveer Singh, and even a Salman Khan cameo. This one pulls from the Ramayana for inspiration, with Singham taking on a new bad guy in true over-the-top style. The budget went to wild action scenes, a star-packed lineup, and Shetty’s knack for making everything feel huge. It’s the kind of crowd-pleaser his fans eat up.

Bade Miyan Chote Miyan - Budget: Rs 350 crore

Ali Abbas Zafar’s 2024 action flick stars Akshay Kumar and Tiger Shroff as two elite soldiers with messy pasts, going head-to-head with a slick villain played by Prithviraj Sukumaran. The budget covered high-octane stunts, shoots in multiple countries, and some serious action choreography. It was sold as a full-on entertainer with patriotic vibes, but some called it predictable. Still, the action sequences got people talking, even if the story didn’t always land.