This was India’s most-watched film, sold over 25 crore tickets, had more footfall than RRR and Baahubali combined, yet it was called a flop, the movie is…

This movie went on to become a cult classic and earned Rs 35 crore at the box office. Scroll down to know the name.

Indian cinema has seen various movies make it to the big screens. While some turn out to be hits, others are misses. However, one particular film, which did not perform well at the time of its release, eventually became a huge success thanks to word of mouth. This movie went on to become a cult classic and earned Rs 35 crore at the box office. It featured some of the best actors in the Bollywood industry, such as Amitabh Bachchan, Hema Malini, and others. If you are wondering which movie we are talking about, it is none other than the iconic Sholay!

During this era, fans and filmmakers often gauge the success or failure of a film based on its cast. However, footfall at the ticket counter mattered most back then. If footfall is the only measure, one particular blockbuster stands out with 25 crore tickets sold, the highest for any film. Ramesh Sippy’s Sholay became the most-watched Indian film on the big screen.

After its release, the movie grossed ₹15 crore at the box office. As per the details shared by the IndiCine, Sholay sold an estimated 15 crore tickets in India during its initial run. Additionally, when the film was re-released on different occasions, it witnessed another 3 crore footfalls in the domestic market.

The Curry Western also achieved significant success internationally, especially in the Soviet Union, where it sold 48 million tickets during its initial release and a total of 60 million tickets overall. Sholay is estimated to have sold over one crore additional tickets over the years across Europe, North America, and the Middle East, bringing its total footfall count to over 25 crore.

In comparison with Sholay, another film that turned out to be a huge hit was Baahubali 2: The Conclusion. Directed by SS Rajamouli, the movie saw an estimated 15 crore footfalls worldwide. SS Rajamouli’s other directorial venture, RRR, has an even lower footfall rate of 6 crore.

Sholay was released on the Independence Day weekend in 1975. Given that the film boasted several superstars and was made for a whopping budget of Rs 3 crore (at that time), it was expected to perform well at the box office.

Initially, the film had a slow start, and by Saturday, critics were predicting its failure. However, Sholay gained momentum thanks to strong word of mouth by Sunday, and ticket sales began to soar. Ultimately, by the end of its run, Sholay grossed Rs 15 crore, surpassing Mughal-e-Azam to become the highest-grossing Indian film.

Sholay featured Amitabh Bachchan, Dharmendra, Sanjeev Kumar, Amjad Khan, Hema Malini, and Jaya Bachchan in leading roles.