Indian cinema has entered an era of increasingly large-scale productions, with major films investing heavily in star casts, visual effects, action sequences, international locations and worldwide releases. From Ramayana and Raaka to Kalki 2898 AD, RRR and 2.0, several Indian productions have reached budget levels that were once considered impossible for the industry.
This BoxOfficeX ranking tracks the highest-budget Indian films and major upcoming projects based on publicly reported production estimates. Since movie budgets are rarely disclosed through audited financial statements, figures can differ between reports and should be treated as reported or estimated values unless officially confirmed.
Highest Budget Indian Films – Reported Budget List
| Film / Project | Reported Budget / Scale | Industry | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ramayana – Parts 1 & 2 | ~₹4,000 Cr* | Hindi / Pan-India | Upcoming |
| Raaka | ₹1,000 Cr+* | Pan-India | Upcoming |
| Toxic | ~₹700–800 Cr* | Kannada / Pan-India | Upcoming |
| Adipurush | ~₹500–700 Cr | Hindi / Telugu | Released |
| Kalki 2898 AD | ~₹600 Cr | Telugu / Pan-India | Released |
| RRR | ~₹550 Cr | Telugu / Pan-India | Released |
| 2.0 | ~₹450–600 Cr | Tamil / Pan-India | Released |
| Pushpa 2: The Rule | ~₹400–500 Cr | Telugu / Pan-India | Released |
| The RajaSaab | ~₹400 Cr* | Telugu / Pan-India | Reported |
| The Greatest of All Time (GOAT) | ~₹400 Cr | Tamil | Released |
Important: The figures above are based on reported estimates and are not directly comparable in every case. In particular, the widely reported ₹4,000 crore figure associated with Ramayana covers the two-film project along with its large-scale release and promotional investment, rather than representing the production budget of a single film.
1. Ramayana – Reported ₹4,000 Crore Two-Part Investment
Ramayana sits at the top of the current big-budget conversation in Indian cinema. The project, starring Ranbir Kapoor, Yash and Sai Pallavi, is being developed as a two-part cinematic event with extensive visual-effects work and a global release strategy.
The widely discussed ₹4,000 crore figure should not be interpreted as the production budget of Ramayana Part 1 alone. The figure has been described as encompassing the broader investment across both films as well as their worldwide release and promotion.
2. Raaka – Atlee and Allu Arjun's Massive Project
Atlee and Allu Arjun's Raaka has emerged as another exceptionally expensive Indian production. Recent reporting has placed the ambitious project at over ₹1,000 crore, with reports indicating that it is being planned as a two-part franchise spanning different timelines.
The film is backed by Sun Pictures and has attracted attention for its large cast, extensive visual-effects requirements and motion-capture production. The project has also set a Guinness World Record involving 37 performers being motion-captured simultaneously using 92 cameras. Because the makers have not officially confirmed the reported ₹1,000 crore+ budget or two-part release strategy, BoxOfficeX treats these details as reported information.
3. Toxic – Yash's Large-Scale Pan-India Film
Yash's Toxic has also been associated with an unusually large production investment. Recent reports have placed the film's overall budget in the region of ₹700–800 crore, although budget estimates have varied across publications.
4. Kalki 2898 AD – Around ₹600 Crore
Nag Ashwin's Kalki 2898 AD, starring Prabhas, Amitabh Bachchan, Kamal Haasan and Deepika Padukone, was widely reported to have been produced at a budget of approximately ₹600 crore. Its large-scale sets, science-fiction world, visual effects and star cast made it one of the most expensive Indian films at the time of its release.
5. RRR – Around ₹550 Crore
SS Rajamouli's RRR was mounted on an enormous scale, with a reported production cost of around ₹550 crore. The film combined large action sequences, elaborate period sets, extensive visual effects and a major cast led by Ram Charan and Jr NTR.
6. Adipurush – Reported ₹500–700 Crore
Adipurush, starring Prabhas, Kriti Sanon and Saif Ali Khan, was one of the most expensive Indian films released in 2023. Published budget estimates varied significantly, with figures commonly ranging from approximately ₹500 crore to ₹700 crore.
The large reported investment was associated with its extensive visual-effects work, star cast and multilingual release. Because different reports quoted different totals, the film is best represented with a budget range rather than a single confirmed figure.
7. 2.0 – Reported ₹450–600 Crore
Shankar's 2.0, starring Rajinikanth and Akshay Kumar, was a landmark big-budget production for Indian cinema. Reports placed its cost broadly between ₹450 crore and ₹600 crore, driven by extensive visual effects, large-scale production and 3D technology.
At the time of its 2018 release, 2.0 was widely discussed as one of India's most expensive films and demonstrated the increasing ability of Tamil cinema to mount productions aimed at audiences across India and overseas.
8. Pushpa 2: The Rule – Reported ₹400–500 Crore
Allu Arjun's Pushpa 2: The Rule was developed on a significantly larger scale than its predecessor. Various reports placed its production investment at approximately ₹400–500 crore, making it one of the costliest Telugu films.
The film's large production scale, star remuneration, lengthy shooting schedule and pan-India release strategy contributed to its reported budget.
9. The RajaSaab – Around ₹400 Crore Reported
Prabhas' The RajaSaab has been associated with a reported production budget of around ₹400 crore. The Telugu production has been designed for a wider pan-India audience and represents another major investment built around Prabhas' nationwide theatrical market.
10. The Greatest of All Time (GOAT) – Around ₹400 Crore
Vijay's The Greatest of All Time (GOAT) was reported to have been produced at approximately ₹400 crore, placing it among the costliest Tamil films. The production combined a major star salary, international shooting schedules and visual-effects work.
Big-Budget Indian Films of 2026
The scale of Indian filmmaking continues to expand in 2026, with several major productions carrying reported investments running into hundreds of crores. Projects such as Ramayana, Raaka, Toxic, King and Dhurandhar 2 show how producers are increasingly targeting large domestic and international audiences.
| Film | Reported Budget / Scale | Industry | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ramayana | ~₹4,000 Cr across two films + release/promotion* | Hindi / Pan-India | Upcoming |
| Raaka | ₹1,000 Cr+* | Pan-India | Upcoming / Reported |
| Toxic | ~₹700–800 Cr* | Kannada / Pan-India | Reported |
| King | ~₹300 Cr* | Hindi | Reported |
| Dhurandhar 2 | ~₹250 Cr* | Hindi | Reported |
The figures above represent reported budget or project-scale estimates for major 2026 Indian films. Upcoming-film budgets can change during production, and figures may include different cost components depending on the source. BoxOfficeX will update this table when producers or studios disclose additional information.
₹400 Crore Club: How Many Indian Films Have Reached This Scale?
Once considered extraordinary, the ₹400 crore production range has become increasingly visible among India's largest films. Productions associated with Prabhas, Rajinikanth, Vijay, Allu Arjun, Yash and other major stars have pushed investment higher as Indian films increasingly compete for audiences across multiple languages and international markets.
However, a larger budget does not automatically guarantee box-office success. A film with a huge production cost may require substantial theatrical revenue and strong non-theatrical deals to recover its investment, while lower-budget films can generate much stronger returns relative to their cost.
Why Indian Movie Budgets Are Getting Bigger
The rise of the pan-India theatrical market has changed the economics of large Indian productions. Major films are now designed for simultaneous releases across several languages, while overseas distribution, streaming rights, satellite rights and music deals can provide additional revenue streams beyond domestic theatres.
Visual effects, premium-format production, larger star remuneration, longer shooting schedules and worldwide marketing campaigns have also increased overall investment. As a result, ₹300–600 crore projects are becoming more visible at the top end of Indian cinema, while a small number of upcoming projects are being discussed at even larger scales.
Budget Figures: What Readers Should Know
Movie budget figures should be interpreted carefully. Some reported numbers represent production cost only, while others may include actor remuneration, visual effects, interest costs, prints, advertising or worldwide marketing. In multi-part projects, reports may also quote the combined investment for more than one film.
BoxOfficeX therefore labels unconfirmed figures as reported or estimated budgets and will update this ranking when producers, studios or other reliable sources provide new information.
Which Is the Most Expensive Indian Film?
Based on currently reported investment figures, Ramayana is associated with the largest overall investment in Indian cinema, with approximately ₹4,000 crore being discussed across its two-film project, worldwide release and promotional strategy. This should not be interpreted as the production budget of a single Ramayana film.
Is Raaka a ₹1,000 Crore Film?
Raaka, directed by Atlee and starring Allu Arjun, has been reported as a ₹1,000 crore+ project. Reports have also indicated plans for the story to span two films. However, the final budget has not been officially confirmed by the makers, so BoxOfficeX lists the figure as reported rather than confirmed.
Which Is the Most Expensive Released Indian Film?
Among already released Indian films, productions such as Adipurush, Kalki 2898 AD, RRR and 2.0 occupy the highest reported budget range. Exact ordering varies because published budget estimates differ between sources, particularly for Adipurush and 2.0.
How Much Did Kalki 2898 AD Cost?
Kalki 2898 AD was widely reported with a production budget of approximately ₹600 crore. The science-fiction epic featured large-scale sets, extensive visual effects and an ensemble cast including Prabhas, Amitabh Bachchan, Kamal Haasan and Deepika Padukone.
Are Movie Budget Reports Official?
Not always. Indian film producers rarely publish detailed audited production accounts. Budget numbers reported by entertainment and trade publications may include different components, such as production expenditure, actor remuneration, visual effects, interest, marketing or release costs. This is why BoxOfficeX identifies figures as reported or estimated where official confirmation is unavailable.
Final Word
Indian cinema's biggest productions have moved from the ₹100–200 crore range to projects being discussed at ₹500 crore, ₹1,000 crore and beyond. Ramayana and Raaka represent the latest expansion in scale, while films such as Kalki 2898 AD, RRR, Adipurush, 2.0 and Pushpa 2 demonstrate how large-budget filmmaking has already become established across multiple Indian industries.
This page will be updated as new budget information becomes available, allowing the list to remain a current reference for the biggest and most expensive productions in Indian cinema.