One-Off To Franchise: 15 Indian Movies Whose Success Changed The Plan
From ‘Maharaja’ to ‘Drishyam’ and ‘Hera Pheri’, these standalone Indian films exceeded expectations and returned as successful franchises.
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Film franchises often look inevitable only in hindsight. Once the sequels, recurring characters and instantly recognisable title music arrive, it is easy to imagine that somebody had mapped out the entire journey on day one. In reality, several of Indian cinema’s best-known franchises began with a standalone film, a limited budget and no certainty that audiences would want another chapter. Sometimes word of mouth rescued a slow opening. Sometimes television, home video or streaming turned a respectable theatrical performer into a phenomenon. And occasionally, as with ‘Kantara’ or ‘Stree’, the audience response was so enormous that one story rapidly became the foundation of a much larger screen universe.
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The latest reminder comes from ‘Maharaja’. Vijay Sethupathi has confirmed that director Nithilan Saminathan has narrated a story for ‘Maharaja 2’ and that the project is being developed. The 2024 Tamil thriller also travelled far beyond its original market, scored an exceptional run in China and now has a Hollywood remake in development.
1. Maharaja
Released on 14 June 2024, Nithilan Saminathan’s ‘Maharaja’ starred Vijay Sethupathi as a soft-spoken barber whose complaint about a stolen dustbin conceals a far more disturbing purpose. Anurag Kashyap, Mamta Mohandas, Natarajan Subramaniam and Sachana Namidass formed the principal supporting cast. Made for a reported Rs 20 crore, the revenge thriller earned approximately Rs 190 crore worldwide – a staggering result for a dark, Tamil-language film without the scale or promotional machinery of a conventional pan-India spectacle.
The writing did the heavy lifting. Viewers kept recommending the film while protecting its revelations, its Netflix run widened the audience, and its later China release added another remarkable chapter. In September 2026, Vijay Sethupathi said Nithilan Saminathan had narrated a “beautiful” story for ‘Maharaja 2’ and admitted that the team had never expected the first film to travel this far. The sequel is in development rather than production, so cast and release details remain unannounced. Separately, producer Sudhan Sundaram has confirmed development of an American remake, although reports linking Matthew McConaughey to it remain unconfirmed.
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2. Drishyam
Jeethu Joseph’s Malayalam thriller ‘Drishyam’ released on 19 December 2013, with Mohanlal, Meena, Ansiba Hassan, Esther Anil, Asha Sharath and Siddique leading the cast. The film followed cable-TV operator Georgekutty as he used his obsessive movie-watching habit to protect his family after a crime. Produced for a reported Rs 3.5-5 crore, it grossed more than Rs 60 crore worldwide and became the first Malayalam film widely credited with entering the Rs 50 crore club.
This is the cleanest example on the list because Jeethu Joseph had said he did not imagine a sequel when the original released and initially dismissed suggestions of one. The continuing discussion around Georgekutty’s alibi – and the story’s successful remakes in several languages – eventually convinced him that another film was possible. ‘Drishyam 2’ arrived on Prime Video in 2021, ‘Drishyam 3’ reached theatres in 2026, and the property has grown into one of Indian cinema’s rare franchises capable of being continued and remade simultaneously.
3. Kantara
Rishab Shetty wrote, directed and starred in ‘Kantara’, which opened in Kannada on 30 September 2022 with Sapthami Gowda, Kishore and Achyuth Kumar in important roles. Rooted in coastal Karnataka’s Bhoota Kola traditions, the film began as a regional release rather than a carefully engineered nationwide event. Made for a reported Rs 16 crore, it expanded into dubbed versions after extraordinary demand and ultimately collected about Rs 407.82 crore worldwide.
Its success came from the oldest marketing tool in cinema: people emerging from theatres and insisting that everybody they knew had to experience the climax. The response did more than produce a conventional sequel. It allowed Rishab Shetty and Hombale Films to travel backwards and enlarge the mythology through the prequel ‘Kantara: A Legend – Chapter 1’, released on 2 October 2025.
4. Stree
When Amar Kaushik’s ‘Stree’ released on 31 August 2018, its reported Rs 20-25 crore budget and deliberately eccentric mix of horror, comedy and social commentary did not scream “future universe”. Rajkummar Rao, Shraddha Kapoor, Pankaj Tripathi, Aparshakti Khurana and Abhishek Banerjee led the story of Chanderi’s men being abducted by a mysterious female spirit. The film opened at Rs 6.82 crore in India, kept growing and finished with Rs 129.90 crore nett domestically and approximately Rs 180.76 crore worldwide.
“O Stree, kal aana” soon stopped being merely writing on a wall and became an invitation to build again. The film’s jokes, memorable supporting characters and unresolved mystery gave it exceptional repeat value. Its success ultimately led to ‘Stree 2’ in 2024 while its world expanded through interconnected horror comedies including ‘Bhediya’ and ‘Munjya’.
5. Fukrey
Mrighdeep Singh Lamba’s ‘Fukrey’ released on 14 June 2013 with Pulkit Samrat, Varun Sharma, Ali Fazal, Manjot Singh, Richa Chadha and Priya Anand. The reported Rs 8 crore comedy followed four Delhi dreamers whose shortcut to easy money placed them in the path of local operator Bholi Punjaban. It opened at just Rs 2.62 crore but climbed to Rs 36.50 crore nett in India, earning a semi-hit verdict from Bollywood Hungama.
Even the director did not see the response coming. Mrighdeep Singh Lamba later acknowledged that the team had not expected the film to do so well. Choocha’s dreams, Hunny’s schemes and Bholi’s exasperation then acquired strong repeat value on television and home viewing. Excel Entertainment returned with ‘Fukrey Returns’ in 2017 and ‘Fukrey 3’ in 2023.
6. Tanu Weds Manu
Released on 25 February 2011, Aanand L Rai’s ‘Tanu Weds Manu’ paired R Madhavan’s mild-mannered Manu with Kangana Ranaut’s volatile Tanu. Jimmy Sheirgill, Deepak Dobriyal, Swara Bhasker and Eijaz Khan rounded out an ensemble that made the small-town wedding world feel lived-in rather than decorative. Made for a reported Rs 17.5 crore, the romantic comedy began with a modest Rs 3.26 crore opening and worked its way to Rs 36.84 crore nett in India.
The film did not end with an obvious “Part Two coming soon” sign. Its real franchise potential was the affection viewers developed for the characters, accents, music and messy relationships. That goodwill enabled Aanand L Rai to return four years later with ‘Tanu Weds Manu Returns’, adding Kangana’s Datto to the chaos instead of merely repeating the first film. The sequel became far bigger than its predecessor, proving that audiences had not just enjoyed one marriage – they were ready to attend the next round of arguments too.
7. Pyaar Ka Punchnama
Luv Ranjan’s ‘Pyaar Ka Punchnama’ reached cinemas on 20 May 2011 with a largely unfamiliar young cast: Kartik Aaryan, Divyenndu, Raayo S Bakhirta, Nushrratt Bharuccha, Sonnalli Seygall and Ishita Raj. Produced for a reported Rs 7 crore, it opened below Rs 1 crore and ended with approximately Rs 9 crore nett in India. Those numbers look tiny beside modern franchise grosses, but its afterlife was much louder than its initial run.
The relationship comedy found young viewers through word of mouth, television and endlessly circulated clips – particularly Kartik’s marathon monologue. By the time ‘Pyaar Ka Punchnama 2’ arrived in 2015, the title itself had become shorthand for a particular brand of battle-of-the-sexes humour.
8. Mardaani
Pradeep Sarkar’s ‘Mardaani’ released on 22 August 2014 and placed Rani Mukerji’s Crime Branch officer Shivani Shivaji Roy at the centre of a grim child-trafficking investigation. Tahir Raj Bhasin, Jisshu Sengupta and Anant Vidhaat were among the key supporting actors. Mounted on a reported Rs 21 crore budget, it earned Rs 35.82 crore nett in India and approximately Rs 59.55 crore worldwide.
The film had no dependence on romance, songs or a male co-star to carry its stakes, yet viewers embraced both the thriller and its uncompromising lead. When Yash Raj Films announced ‘Mardaani 2’ in 2018, the studio explicitly described the sequel as the beginning of the ‘Mardaani’ franchise. Rani Mukerji also said audiences had repeatedly asked when she would play Shivani again. The second film followed in 2019 and ‘Mardaani 3’ in 2026, turning a cop drama into Hindi cinema’s rare female-led action-thriller series.
9. Housefull
Sajid Khan’s ‘Housefull’ released on 30 April 2010 with Akshay Kumar, Riteish Deshmukh, Deepika Padukone, Lara Dutta, Arjun Rampal and Jiah Khan. The farce sent a spectacularly unlucky man into an expanding maze of fake relationships, mistaken identities and very expensive confusion. Made for a reported Rs 30 crore, it collected Rs 75.62 crore nett in India and approximately Rs 123.69 crore worldwide.
Unlike films that wait years to discover their franchise value, ‘Housefull’ received the message quickly. Sajid said its box office performance encouraged the sequel, neatly summarising the industry’s decision-making process: audiences vote first, filmmakers start writing “2” afterwards. ‘Housefull 2’ arrived in 2012, and the series eventually reached ‘Housefull 5’ in 2025, rotating actors, directors and locations while retaining Akshay, Riteish and its fondness for turning one lie into fifty.
10. Dhamaal
Released on 7 September 2007, Indra Kumar’s ‘Dhamaal’ brought together Sanjay Dutt, Riteish Deshmukh, Arshad Warsi, Jaaved Jaaferi and Aashish Chaudhary for a treasure hunt in which nobody possessed the skills required to find treasure. Made for a reported Rs 17 crore, the comedy earned Rs 32.51 crore nett in India and approximately Rs 50.19 crore worldwide.
Its plot reached a perfectly complete ending, but the ensemble’s physical comedy and quotable set pieces proved reusable. The team returned in ‘Double Dhamaal’ in 2011, before ‘Total Dhamaal’ in 2019 rebuilt the property with a substantially changed cast and larger scale. By 2026, ‘Dhamaal 4’ had carried the brand into a fourth outing.
11. Gadar: Ek Prem Katha
Anil Sharma’s ‘Gadar: Ek Prem Katha’ released on 15 June 2001, the same day as ‘Lagaan’, and still grew into a historic blockbuster. Sunny Deol, Ameesha Patel, Amrish Puri and Utkarsh Sharma led the Partition-era story of Tara Singh and Sakina. Made for a reported Rs 18-19 crore, the film collected Rs 76.88 crore nett in India and approximately Rs 111.73 crore worldwide – extraordinary business at the time.
‘Gadar’ was not an underdog that barely survived; it became a sensation. The unexpected part was its longevity and the strength of the demand for Tara and Sakina after more than two decades. Anil Sharma and Sunny Deol discussed a continuation over the years but waited until they had a story they believed justified the return. ‘Gadar 2’ finally arrived on 11 August 2023 and turned nostalgia into another blockbuster. It was less a conventional sequel launch than a dormant franchise discovering that its audience had never really gone away.
12. Bhool Bhulaiyaa
Priyadarshan’s ‘Bhool Bhulaiyaa’ opened on 12 October 2007 with Akshay Kumar, Vidya Balan, Shiney Ahuja, Ameesha Patel, Paresh Rawal and Rajpal Yadav. A Hindi adaptation within the long remake lineage of the Malayalam classic ‘Manichitrathazhu’, it balanced psychological mystery, horror and broad comedy while giving Hindi cinema the enduring figure of Manjulika. The film, made for a reported Rs 32 crore, collected Rs 49.10 crore nett in India and approximately Rs 82.35 crore worldwide.
For years it remained a popular standalone film rather than an active series. Then ‘Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2’ arrived in 2022 with Kartik Aaryan, Kiara Advani and Tabu, keeping the title, haunted-palace flavour and Manjulika mythology rather than continuing the original narrative. Its enormous success accelerated ‘Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3’ in 2024. This is therefore a franchise of spiritual sequels, not one continuous story – but the first film supplied the name, mood and musical cues that made the resurrection possible.
13. OMG: Oh My God!
Umesh Shukla’s ‘OMG: Oh My God!’ released on 28 September 2012, starring Paresh Rawal as an atheist shopkeeper who sues God after an earthquake destroys his business. Akshay Kumar appeared as the divine Krishna Vasudev Yadav, while Mithun Chakraborty led the film’s collection of self-serving religious figures. Made for a reported Rs 20 crore, it opened at Rs 4.25 crore, gathered momentum through word of mouth and finished at Rs 81.46 crore nett in India and approximately Rs 123.97 crore worldwide.
The surprise was not merely the amount earned but the audience it found for a satirical courtroom drama about faith and organised religion. Eleven years later, ‘OMG 2’ retained Akshay as a divine guide but introduced a new story, with Pankaj Tripathi and Yami Gautam leading a debate around s*x education. Like ‘Bhool Bhulaiyaa’, this is best described as a thematic or spiritual-sequel franchise.
14. Raaz
Vikram Bhatt’s ‘Raaz’ released on 1 February 2002 and starred Bipasha Basu, Dino Morea, Malini Sharma and Ashutosh Rana. Made for a reported Rs 5-6 crore, the supernatural thriller earned about Rs 21.46 crore nett in India and approximately Rs 30.59 crore worldwide. Its atmospheric locations, Nadeem-Shravan soundtrack and blend of romance with horror helped it become one of that year’s biggest surprises.
The title’s real power became apparent later. ‘Raaz: The Mystery Continues’ followed in 2009, ‘Raaz 3’ in 2012 and ‘Raaz Reboot’ in 2016, with changing casts, characters and supernatural threats. In other words, the original did not launch a continuing family saga; it established ‘Raaz’ as a horror label. Long before “universe” became Bollywood’s favourite business word, this modest hit demonstrated that audiences would return for a familiar promise even when the story and stars changed completely.
15. Hera Pheri
Priyadarshan’s ‘Hera Pheri’ released on 31 March 2000 with Akshay Kumar, Suniel Shetty, Paresh Rawal and Tabu. Adapted from the Malayalam comedy ‘Ramji Rao Speaking’, it placed Raju, Shyam and Baburao inside a kidnapping mix-up that was funny because everybody was broke, desperate and spectacularly unqualified. Made for a reported Rs 7.5 crore, it earned Rs 12.36 crore nett in India and approximately Rs 17.80 crore worldwide. Bollywood Hungama classified the original run as “average” – hardly the birth announcement of a national obsession.
Television reruns, DVDs, memes and endlessly repeated dialogues did what the opening weekend could not: they made Baburao’s house permanent cultural property. Producer Firoz Nadiadwala had said that serious discussions about carrying the story forward began only in late 2003, when sequels were still unusual in Hindi cinema. Akshay, Suniel and Paresh initially found the “Part 2” idea strange. ‘Phir Hera Pheri’, directed by Neeraj Vora, finally released in 2006 and cemented the trio as franchise characters. The third film has endured a famously complicated development journey; Akshay said in 2026 that it was not being made at that moment but hoped it would happen before the trio became too old.
These films took very different roads to franchise status. ‘Kantara’ exploded across languages, ‘Hera Pheri’ needed years of reruns to become indispensable, ‘Drishyam’ left audiences obsessing over its central crime, and ‘Mardaani’ made one formidable police officer worth following across cases. What unites them is that the most important expansion plan was written by the audience. The filmmakers supplied one movie; viewers supplied the demand for another.
