India’s media and entertainment industry is expected to see a growth of 9.7% annually in revenues to reach 73.6 billion USD by 2027. The share of filmed entertainment in media and entertainment in India is projected 8% in 2026 – Stated in IBEF Media and Entertainment Industry Report 2025.
Source: Google Images
Indian Film Industry is one of the largest film industries in the world, leading in the largest number of films produced annually. The industry also constitutes the ‘Highest number of tickets sold annually’ and has the second highest screen count in the world. Indian Film Industry, with its roots tracing back to the silent film ‘Raja Harishchandra’ in 1913, is renowned for its dramatic narratives, elaborate song-and-dance sequences along with its cultural richness. The industry addresses diverse social themes and has a growing presence on digital platforms, with films like ‘RRR’, ‘Baahubali 2: The Conclusion’, ‘Dangal’ and ‘Gully Boy’ gaining international acclaim.
The Top Film Industries in India 2025 are:
- Bollywood: Hindi Film Industry
Share in Gross Domestic Box Office: 43%
Source: Google Images
Primarily established in Mumbai, Bollywood is the largest part of the Indian Film Industry. Bollywood specially refers to films in the Hindi language with genres including action, comedy, romance, drama etc.
- 1950s -1960s
After Independence, Bollywood entered the Golden period producing the most critically acclaimed Hindi films of all time like ‘Pyaasa’, ‘Kaagaz Ke Phool’, ‘Mother India’, ‘Mughal-e-Azam’ and many more. Dilip Kumar, Raj Kapoor and Dev Anand are the three most popular male Indian actors of the 1950s and 1960s.
- 1970s -1980s
The greatest screenwriter duo Salim Khan and Javed Akhtar revolutionized the industry in the 1970s. By the mid-1970s violent crime and action films like ‘Zanjeer’ and ‘Deewaar’ were key to Indian cinema. Amitabh Bachchan, Hema Malini, Zeenat Aman, Rekha are the actors and actresses from the era.
- 1990s -2000s
Post 1990s, blockbusters such as ‘Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge’, ‘Hum Aapke Hain Kaun’, ‘Kuch Kuch Hota Hai’, ‘Maine Pyar Kiya’ etc introduced the three Khans: Aamir Khan, Shah Rukh Khan and Salman Khan, and in action and comedy films, Akshay Kumar and Govinda. The 2000s saw increased Bollywood recognition with largest production houses ‘Yash raj Films’ and ‘Dharma Productions’ producing various popular films.
- 2010s -present
In the 2010s, actors and actresses like Alia Bhatt, Deepika Padukone, Varun Dhawan, Siddharth Malhotra, Kriti Sanon and many more have featured in globally recognized and financially successful films. ‘Dangal’ released in 2016 is the highest-grossing Hindi film with Rs. 1914-2200 crore.
2. Tollywood: Telugu Film Industry
Share in Gross Domestic Box Office: 26%
Source: Google Images
Based in Hyderabad, Telugu Film Industry is the producer of some of India’s most expensive and highest-grossing films.
- 1920s -1930s
In 1921, ‘Bhishma Pratigna’ was produced by Venkaiah Naidu and directed by R.S. Prakash, as the first Telugu film producer and exhibitor, Naidu is regarded as the ‘Father of Telugu Cinema’. In 1933, ‘Sati Savitri’ received an honorary diploma at the 2nd Venice Film Festival. Dasari Kotiratnam produced ‘Sati Anasuya’ in 1935 and became the first female producer of the telugu industry.
- 1950s -1960s
The 1950s and 1960s are considered the Golden Age of Telugu cinema, featuring enhanced production quality, influential filmmakers and notable studios, resulting in a variety of films that were both popular and critically acclaimed. Released in 1951, ‘Malliswari’ by B.N. Reddy was screened in 1952 at Peking Film Festival in China.
- 2000s -present
In 2006, Telugu had the highest number of 245 films produced in India. Ramoji Film City holds the ‘Guinness World Record’ as the largest film studio complex in the world. ‘Baahubali 2’ has won the Saturn Award for Best International Film. ‘RRR’ became the first Indian feature film to win an Academy Award and many more international accolades, including a Critics Choice Award for Best foreign language film and a Golden Globe Award. Films like ‘Dassi’, ‘Thilaadanam’ and ‘Vanaja’ received acclaim at major international film festivals such as Venice, Berlin, Karlovy, Moscow and Busan. Vijayashanti, Shilpa Shetty, Mrunal Thakur, Genelia D’ Souza, Tamannaah Bhatia, Mahesh Babu, Prabhas, Ram Charan, Venkatesh are some of the best known actors and actresses of this industry. ‘Baahubali 2: The Conclusion’ released in 2017 has the highest grossing of Rs. 1,810.6 crore in the Telugu Film Industry.
3. Kollywood: Tamil Film Industry
Share in Gross Domestic Box Office: 15%
Source: Google Images
Situated in Chennai, Tamil Film Industry is dedicated to the production of motion pictures in the Tamil language.
- 1930s -1980s
‘Kalidas’ is a biographical film directed by H.M. Reddy released in 1931 is the first Tamil talking film. The man who truly laid the foundations of Tamil cinema was A. Narayanan, who set up a production company known as GPC [General Pictures Corporation], made about 24 feature films. GPC functioned as a film school and its alumni included names such as Sundara Rao Nadkarni and Jiten Banerji.
- 1990s -present
The industry has been renowned for its advanced narratives and diverse films, with several productions in the early 1990s and early 2000s cutting across ethnic and linguistic barriers including ‘Roja’, ‘Bombay’, ‘Indian’ and ‘Enthiran’. Tamil films have enjoyed consistent popularity among populations in South east asia, since ‘Chandralekha’, ‘Muthu’ was the second Tamil film to be dubbed into Japanese and grossed a record $1.6 million in 1998. In 2010, the gross record of ‘Enthiran’ was $4 million in North America. ‘Kannathil Muthamittal’, ‘Veyyil’, ‘Paruthiveeran’ and ‘Kanchivaram’ were selected to be premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival. Ranjinikanth, Nassar, Vikram, Vijay Sethupathi, Sudhakar, Savitri, Sridevi, Nayanthara, Asin, Samantha, Rashmika Mandanna are some of the iconic actors and actresses of the industry. Over the last quarter of the 20th century, Tamil films established a global presence, enjoying strong box office collections among Tamil speaking audiences in Sri Lanka, Malaysia and Singapore. ‘2.0’ released in 2018 is the highest grossing film of the Tamil Industry with Rs. 666-800 crore.
4. Mollywood: Malayalam Film Industry
Share in Gross Domestic Box Office: 9%
Source: Google Images
Renowned for its strong storytelling, powerful performances and social themes, Malayalam Film Industry has received critical acclaim and is often regarded as one of India’s most notable film industries.
- 1930s -1950s
In 1930, ‘Vigathakumaran’ first Malayalam silent film was released, produced and directed by J.C. Daniel- Father of Malayalam Cinema’. The industry has always taken its themes from relevant social issues and has been interwoven with material from literature, drama and politics since its inception. In 1954, the film ‘Neelakuyil’ captured national interest by winning the President’s Silver Medal.
- 1970s -1980s
Cinematographers who won the National Award for their work in Malayalam films in the 1970s were Mankada Ravi Varma, P.S. Nivas and Shaji N. Karun. ‘Elippathayam’ released in 1982 won the Sutherland trophy at the London Film Festival. ‘Piravi’ released in 1989 by Shaji N Karun was the first Malayalam film to win the Camera d’ Or- mention at the Cannes Film Festival.
- 1990s -present
‘Guru’ released in 1997 was chosen as India’s official entry to the Oscars to be considered for nomination in the Best Foreign Film Category. Additionally, ‘Marana Simhasanam’ won the Camera d’ Or at the 1999 Cannes Film Festival. ‘Christian Brothers’ of 2011 was the wildest release for the Malayalam film by going 80 centres overseas. Released in 2013 ‘Drishyam’ became the first Malayalam film to cross the 500 million mark at the box office. In 2021-22, ‘Drishyam 2’, ‘The Great Indian Kitchen’ and ‘Malik’ were the highest rated films. In 2024, the films like ‘Premalu’, ‘Manjummel Boys’, ‘Aavesham’ and ‘ARM’, all earned over Rs.100 crores at the worldwide box office. ‘L2: Empuraan’ released in 2025 is the highest grossing film of Malayalam Industry at Rs.262.75 crore.
5. Pollywood: Punjabi Film Industry
Share in Gross Domestic Box Office: Included in Other languages 4%
Source: Google Images
Punjabi film industry is one of the highest receiving International recognition film industries.
- 1930s -1960s
The first sound film of the industry was ‘Heer Ranjha’ released in 1932, using the sound-on-disc technology. The India-Pakistan partition compelled Punjabi film actors, filmmakers and musicians to work in the Bombay industry including actors such as Prithviraj Kapoor, Dilip Kumar and Dev Anand and singers such as Mohammad Rafi and Noor Jahan. The big budget romantic Punjabi film released in 1964, ‘Satluj De Kande’ was a major hit and won a National Film Award.
- 1970s -present
In the 1970s, the most successful Punjabi film released was ‘Dukh Bhanjan Tera Naam’ due to the wild appeal of its religious historical setting and appearances by Bollywood actors including Dharmendra, Sunil Dutt and many more. In 1979, ‘Til Til Da Lekha’ starring Rajesh Khanna as the mainlead, became a golden jubilee hit at the box office. ‘Chann Pardesi’ the first Punjabi film to win the national award was released in 1980, and was the biggest hit of that year. In the 2000s, many films directed by Manmohan Singh were released and became hits. The 2013 Golden Phase of the industry featuring Diljit Dosanjh, Gippy Grewal and many more actors stole the hearts of audiences by their successful films. ‘Jatt and Juliet 2’ was the first blockbuster film of the industry. ‘The Legend of Maula Jatt’ released in 2022 is the highest grossing Punjabi language film with Rs. 396 crore.
To conclude, the Indian Film Industry, consisting of motion pictures, well known for its musical aspects, poignant narratives, long running times and producing 1000+ films over a year, is the most prolific in the world. Innovative technology and international partnerships have led to higher production values, variety of genres and inclusion of modern subjects. Therefore, the Indian Film Industry holds second place after Hollywood in the world.
