Move Over Dangal: This Bollywood Classic Holds the Record for Highest Ticket Sales Abroad

While many Bollywood movies have made waves and earned crores in India, some truly showcase their potential when released in international markets. Movies like Dangal, Andhadhun, Pushpa 2, and Secret Superstar have achieved phenomenal success, crossing massive box office milestones in countries like China, Japan, and other parts of Asia—all while performing admirably in India too.

Now, the latest entrant to this elite club is the movie Maharaja, which recently crossed the ₹100-crore mark in China! But did you know that this trend of Bollywood movies breaking records overseas isn’t new? In fact, it dates back over five decades to a film that smashed records in another country—China, to be precise.

Released in 1971, the movie Caravan achieved what many films dream of. This small-budget film, starring Jeetendra and Asha Parekh in lead roles, was a massive hit in India, earning ₹3.6 crores at the box office—a significant sum back then. However, Caravan’s true success story unfolded eight years later when it was released in China. The film turned into a cultural phenomenon there, earning a whopping ₹8.8 crores—a record-breaking achievement for a foreign film at the time.

The craze for Caravan didn’t stop there. The film was re-released in China multiple times, with total footfalls skyrocketing to an estimated 30 crores—the highest ever for any Indian film in a single country. It not only surpassed Sholay’s box office numbers in India but also outdid Awara’s success in the Soviet Union to cement its place in Bollywood history.

Well, no doubt most countries can’t beat India in filmmaking and storytelling and this movie is proof of that.

Featured Image: YouTube