Director Pa. Ranjith
· Cast Rajinikanth, Radhika Apte, Dhansika
· Released Jul 22, 2016
Worldwide
₹135 Cr India nett
Gross collection
India Nett
₹135 Cr
After GST
Overseas
₹₹175 Cr
International gross
Budget
₹85 Cr
Production cost
Boxoffy VerdictBlockbuster
Kabali earned the Blockbuster verdict — a film that significantly exceeded its break-even point and delivered strong returns for all stakeholders. With ₹135 Cr India nett against a reported budget of ₹85 Cr, representing a 159% return on production cost, the film demonstrates the rare combination of wide audience reach and sustained theatrical momentum. A Blockbuster in Indian cinema is not just profitable — it is a film that found a genuine mass audience and kept them coming back.
Boxoffy Read
Pa. Ranjith's Kabali is the most politically significant Tamil mass entertainer in a generation — a film about a Tamil labour activist in Malaysia that carries a critique of caste oppression and racial discrimination inside Rajinikanth's commercial framework. The political content is not decoration but the film's actual argument, and Pa. Ranjith's ability to deliver that argument through the most commercial possible vehicle is his singular achievement. Blockbuster verdict on its budget.
Financial AnalysisBox Office vs Budget
Kabali was reportedly made on a budget of ₹85 Cr. Against that investment, the film collected ₹135 Cr India nett — a 1.6x multiple on production cost and a 159% return on the reported budget. Worldwide gross reached ₹135 Cr, including overseas contribution of ₹-24.3 Cr.
Break-even at the Indian box office typically requires approximately 1.5x the production budget once prints, advertising and distribution costs are factored in — placing the break-even threshold for Kabali at roughly ₹128 Cr India nett. The film cleared this threshold, resulting in the Blockbuster verdict.
₹0Break-even ~₹128 Cr₹135 Cr collected
The 2016 Box OfficeYear in Context
Dangal at ₹387 Cr India nett. ₹2,070 Cr worldwide with China. The greatest Hindi box office performance of all time — until 2026. Sultan crossed ₹300 Cr. Rustom and Airlift both delivered 140%+ ROI on modest budgets. 2016 was Bollywood's best year to date — content-driven and star-driven cinema both thriving. Fan and Shivaay proved even the biggest stars couldn't rescue weak content.
Kabali is classified as a Blockbuster by Boxoffy. The film collected ₹135 Cr India nett against a reported budget of ₹85 Cr. The film was commercially profitable.
Kabali collected ₹135 Cr India nett at the box office, with a worldwide gross of ₹135 Cr India nett. The India nett figure represents collections after GST extraction, as reported by Box Office India and cross-referenced with Sacnilk and Pinkvilla.
Kabali released in 2016 and is likely available on major Indian streaming platforms. Check Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, JioHotstar, ZEE5 and SonyLIV for current availability, as OTT rights shift periodically.
Kabali was directed by Pa. Ranjith. The 2016 Tamil film earned a Blockbuster verdict at the Indian box office, collecting ₹135 Cr India nett.
Kabali collected ₹135 Cr India nett in 2016, earning a Blockbuster verdict. Dangal at ₹387 Cr India nett. ₹2,070 Cr worldwide with China. The greatest Hindi box office performance of all time — until 2026. Sultan crossed ₹300 Cr. Rustom and Airlift both delivered 140%+ ROI on...