India’s film industry is new to the franchise or cinematic universe model. While sequels have been popular in the West since the 1930s, Indian franchises only gained momentum in the 21st century. Today, the YRF Spy Universe is India’s highest-grossing film franchise, earning ₹2900 crore globally from five films.
The YRF Spy Universe, created by Aditya Chopra, began with Ek Tha Tiger (2012), followed by Tiger Zinda Hai and War. However, the films weren’t connected until Pathaan (2023), which brought them together with crossovers and cameos. The franchise includes Pathaan, starring Shah Rukh Khan (₹1050 crore), and the three Tiger films featuring Salman Khan (₹1366 crore). War, starring Hrithik Roshan, earned ₹475 crore.
Before YRF Spy Universe, Baahubali was the highest-grossing Indian franchise with ₹2300 crore. Other franchises like Pushpa (₹2000 crore), KGF (₹1500 crore), and Rohit Shetty’s Cop Universe (₹1430 crore) follow. The YRF Spy Universe stands out with its diverse standalone films, helping it soar above others in box-office earnings.
In 2025, the universe plans to grow further with two major releases: War 2, starring Hrithik Roshan and Jr NTR, and Alpha, a female-led film featuring Alia Bhatt and Sharvari.
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