Director Subhash Ghai
· Cast Dilip Kumar, Anil Kapoor, Jackie Shroff, Sridevi
· Released 4 Apr 1986
India Nett
₹9.0 Cr
After GST
Overseas
₹₹1.5 Cr
International gross
Budget
₹2.0 Cr
Production cost
Boxoffy VerdictAll-Time Blockbuster
Karma is classified as an All-Time Blockbuster — Boxoffy's highest verdict, reserved for films that permanently altered the commercial landscape of Indian cinema. With ₹9 Cr India nett against a reported budget of ₹2 Cr, representing a 450% return on production cost, it belongs to a small elite of films that transcend their release year and enter the cultural record. An All-Time Blockbuster does not just recoup costs — it redefines what a successful film can be.
Boxoffy Read
Karma assembled four of the biggest stars of two different generations — Dilip Kumar representing old Bollywood, Anil Kapoor and Jackie Shroff the new — and Subhash Ghai managed the ensemble with the confidence of a filmmaker who understood that star presence is itself a kind of storytelling. The film's anti-terrorism plot was a direct response to the political violence of the mid-1980s, and Indian audiences responded to the catharsis. At ₹9 Cr it was among the biggest grossers of 1986, making it Ghai's commercial peak to that point.
Financial AnalysisBox Office vs Budget
Karma was reportedly made on a budget of ₹2 Cr. Against that investment, the film collected ₹9 Cr India nett — a 4.5x multiple on production cost and a 450% return on the reported budget.
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 Karma at roughly ₹3 Cr India nett. The film cleared this threshold, resulting in the All-Time Blockbuster verdict.
Karma is classified as a All-Time Blockbuster by Boxoffy. The film collected ₹9 Cr India nett against a reported budget of ₹2 Cr. The film was commercially profitable.
Karma collected ₹9 Cr India nett at the box office. The India nett figure represents collections after GST extraction, as reported by Box Office India and cross-referenced with Sacnilk and Pinkvilla.
Karma released in 1986 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.
Karma was directed by Subhash Ghai. The 1986 Hindi film earned a All-Time Blockbuster verdict at the Indian box office, collecting ₹9 Cr India nett.