2015 was a year where both corporate houses as well as notable names in the production business found good success coming their way (in making money). If Eros led from the front and Fox followed, veterans like Sanjay Leela Bhansali and Kumar Mangat scored well too. Here is looking at the Top-10 corporate houses/studios/production companies that generated maximum moolah for Bollywood.

Eros – 928 crore [Bajrangi Bhaijaan – 321 crore, Bajirao Mastani – 175 crore (expected), Tanu Weds Manu Returns – 152 crore, Welcome Back – 97 crore, Badlapur – 53 crore, Tevar – 41 crore, Hero – 34 crore, NH 10 – 33 crore, Shamitabh – 22 crore]

2015 has been the best year for Eros, as far as revenues generated from Hindi films is concerned. Though 2014 had been pretty much forgettable with hardly a success or two to its name, it has been a completely turnaround for Eros in 2015 with 3 out of Top-5 films to its name. If Tanu Weds Manu Returns set the path, Bajrangi Bhaijaan hit it out of the mark. Now Bajirao Mastani has been the right dessert.

Fox – 447 crore [Prem Ratan Dhan Payo – 210 crore, Brothers – 85 crore, Shaandaar – 43 crore, Hamari Adhuri Kahani – 39 crore, Mr. X – 25 crore, Bombay Velvet – 23 crore, Khamoshiyan – 12 crore, Guddu Rangeela – 9 crore, Miss Tanakpur Haazir Ho – 1.5 crore]

Their Hit v/s Flop ratio in 2015 may be a tad skewed. However, Fox has still managed to be at Number Two position due to sheer regularity of releasing Bollywood films. If it suffered the huge disaster of Bombay Velvet, there were cheers at the end of the year with Prem Ratan Dhan Payo turning out to be the second biggest success of the year. Fox would now be starting 2016 with an impressive looking Neerja.

Bhansali Productions- 263 crore [Bajirao Mastani – 175 crore (expected), Gabbar Is Back – 88 crore]

Sanjay Leela Bhansali released both his films as co-productions. Meanwhile, he mixed genres well by starting it off with a ‘masala’ entertainer Gabbar Is Back and wrapping it all up with high-on-aesthetics Bajirao Mastani. Bhansali is making some interesting choices as a producers because earlier too he has played between the likes of Rowdy Rathre and Ram Leela. One looks forward to what he does next in 2016.

Disney UTV – 255 crore [ABCD – Any Body Can Dance – 2 – 107 crore, Tamasha – 68 crore, Phantom – 53 crore, Katti Batti – 27 crore]

2015 started pretty well for Disney UTV with the major success of ABCD – Any Body Can Dance – 2. The film entered the 100 crore club and added on to their repertoire. Phantom took a good opening too and that helped the film go past the 50 crore mark. However, Katti Batti turned out to be a commercial disappointment. Tamasha scored with its target audience though Disney would be looking at a bigger 2016.

T-Series – 249 crore [Baby – 95 crore, Roy – 45 crore, Hate Story 3 – 55 crore, Ek Paheli Leela – 27 crore, All Is Well – 22 crore, I Love NY – 3 crore, Bhaag Johnny – 2 crore]

The only independent production house to release as many as even films in 2015, T-Series was quite prolific in the year gone by. They have one of the classiest and most appreciated films of 2015 to their name in the form of Baby. As for keeping the masses engaged, they delivered well with another success, Hate Story 3. Their other films may not have done as excellent business but 2016 should start well with Airlift.

Panorama Studios – 168 crore [Drishyam – 77 crore, Pyaar Ka Punchnama 2 – 64 crore, Alone – 24 crore, Kuch Kuch Locha Hai – 3 crore]

Owned by Kumar Mangat and driven by his son Abhishek Pathak, Panorama Studios had a notable year which saw them make a respectable entertainer in Drishyam and fetch excellent critical acclaim with some good moolah coming in as well. Their Pyaar Ka Punchnama 2 was the surprise superhit of the year which wiped away the mega disappointment of Kuch Kuch Locha Hai. As for Alone, it did decent business.

Red Chillies Entertainment – 150 crore (expected) [Dilwale – 150 crore (expected)]

Shahrukh Khan and Gauri Khan’s Red Chillies Entertainment played a gamble and released only one film in 2015; that too on its own accord instead of typing up with a corporate house. While they did make excellent table profits, their film Dilwale has done just about decent theatrically. There was a lot more expected from the Shahrukh Khan starrer and one now waits to hear other announcements for 2016.

Dharma Productions – 128 crore [Brothers – 85 crore, Shaandaar – 43 crore]

Karan Johar’s Dharma Productions made two notable films in 2015 – Brothers and Shaandaar. While Brothers did decent overall, a lot more was expected out of it theatrically. On the other hand Shaandaar proved to the biggest opener ever for Shahid Kapoor but fizzled out from the Day 2 itself. The company has some interesting films lined up in 2016 with Kapoor and Sons to be followed by Ae Dil Hai Mushkil.

Nadiadwala Grandson – 121 crore [Tamasha – 68 crore, Phantom – 53 crore]

2014 was a remarkable year for Sajid Nadiadwala’s Nadiadwala Grandson with four back to back successes (Highway, 2 States, Heropanti, Kick). On the other hand, though 2015 was decent with Phantom and Tamasha going past the 50 crore, one awaits bigger successes from the notable producer. That wait should end in 2016 as Sajid is coming up with four major films – Dhishoom, Baaghi, Housefull 3 and Rangoon.

MSM Motion Pictures – 80 crore [Piku – 80 crore]

They had only one release in 2015 – Piku. The film was critically acclaimed from Day 1 and then went on to gather pace from that moment itself. The Shoojit Sircar film was a crowning glory for MSM as it went on to grow from strength to strength and eventually touch the 80 crore mark. A superhit affair, it boasted of one of the career best performance from Amitabh Bachchan, Deepika Padukone and Irrfan Khan.

Did we miss a money making producer? Let us know in the comments below.

Disclaimers

  1. Only Hindi film releases have been counted (no dubbed versions)
  2. Only India business has been considered (no overseas count)
  3. Only Box Office collections have been considered (not the Hit/Flop status of a film)
  4. All collections as per production and distributor sources

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