Explainer: Do you know how many years ago the trend of sequel films started in Bollywood? If not then find out today

Bollywood Movies Sequels Trend: Nowadays, the trend of sequel films in Bollywood is at its peak. Yes, almost every year the audience gets to see the second, third or fourth part of some superhit film. Producers and directors are also paying more attention to making sequels of those films, whose first part was greatly loved by the audience. This is the reason why these days many franchises like ‘Housefull’, ‘Dhamaal’, ‘Welcome’, ‘Race’, ‘Bhool Bhulaiyaa’, ‘Drishyam’ and ‘Krrish’ are continuously progressing on the big screen.

But do you know when this big trend of sequel films started in Bollywood? Even though sequels to some films had been made earlier, the year 2006 saw the release of many big and successful sequels simultaneously. This was the year when Bollywood got four consecutive sequel films, which not only made great money at the box office but also set a new trend for the years to come. So let us know about those films which gave a new identity to the sequel culture in Bollywood.

2006 became the turning point of Bollywood’s sequel era.

The year 2006 proved to be very special for Bollywood. This year, many sequel films of different genres were released and almost all of them performed well at the box office. The special thing was that these films proved that if the audience gets attached to a story and its characters, then they are equally excited to watch its next part. The four films released this year worked to strengthen the franchise model for Bollywood in the future. These included different genres like comedy, superhero, action and social comedy.

‘Phir Hera Pheri’ won the hearts of the audience again

It is not possible that there is discussion about sequel films and the name of ‘Phir Hera Pheri’ does not come up. ‘Hera Pheri’, released in the year 2000, had already become very popular among the audience. The trio of Akshay Kumar, Paresh Rawal and Sunil Shetty created such magic in the film that the film became a cult classic with time.

Six years later, in 2006, ‘Phir Hera Pheri’ was released. The film further increased the popularity of the first part. The funny adventures of Raju, Shyam and Baburao left the audience rolling with laughter. Many dialogues and scenes of the film still remain a part of social media memes. The film also achieved great success at the box office and proved that the sequel of a successful film can also be an equally big hit.

‘Krrish’ gave India its superhero

‘Koi… Mil Gaya’, released in 2003, marked a new beginning for science-fiction films in Indian cinema. After the success of the film, director Rakesh Roshan decided to take its story forward. However, instead of naming the film ‘Koi… Mil Gaya 2’, he gave a new identity and brought ‘Krrish’ in front of the audience.

Hrithik Roshan starrer, this film gave Indian cinema its first successful superhero franchise character. The film was liked by the audience because of its spectacular visuals, strong action and emotional story. ‘Krrish’ became one of the biggest blockbusters of that era and later many more parts of this franchise were also made.

‘Lage Raho Munnabhai’ made a special place in hearts

‘Munnabhai MBBS’, directed by Rajkumar Hirani, had already proved to be a superhit. The pairing of Sanjay Dutt and Arshad Warsi in the film was greatly liked by the audience. After this, ‘Lage Raho Munnabhai’ was released in 2006. The interesting thing was that it was a sequel only at the level of name and characters. Its story was completely different from the first part.

The message of Gandhigiri was presented in a very entertaining manner in the film, which was accepted wholeheartedly by the people. The film was not only successful at the box office but also had a deep impact on the society. Even today ‘Lage Raho Munnabhai’ is counted among the best sequel films of Hindi cinema.

‘Dhoom 2’ changed the level of action films

Yash Raj Films’ ‘Dhoom’ was released in 2004 and gave a new experience of high-octane action to the Indian audience. Two years later, ‘Dhoom 2’ was released, which took the franchise to a bigger level. Hrithik Roshan played the role of a stylish thief in the film, which was liked very much by the audience. This film starring stars like Aishwarya Rai, Abhishek Bachchan, Uday Chopra and Bipasha Basu was in the news for its glamorous style, spectacular locations and powerful action sequences. ‘Dhoom 2’ became one of the highest-grossing films of that time and further strengthened the prospects of franchise films in Bollywood.

These four films changed the thinking of Bollywood

The success of these four films gave filmmakers the confidence that big money could be made by pursuing successful stories and popular characters. After this, the number of sequels and franchise films in Bollywood continued to increase. Gradually, franchises like ‘Golmaal’, ‘Housefull’, ‘Race’, ‘Welcome’, ‘Dhoom’, ‘Krrish’, ‘Bhool Bhulaiyaa’, ‘Drishyam’ and ‘Dhamaal’ became an important part of the industry.

The era of sequel films continues in 2026

Even after almost 20 years, the craze for sequel films has not diminished in Bollywood. Even today, producers are betting on the next part of those films which already have a strong fan following. This year too, the audience is waiting for many popular franchise films. Films like Ajay Devgan’s ‘Dhamaal 4’ and Akshay Kumar’s ‘Welcome to the Jungle’ are ready for release. Apart from this, many other big projects are also in the pipeline.

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