The Indian film industry’s apparent quietness regarding the booming success of genre films, particularly horror, presents a fascinating paradox. Historically, Indian horror was often relegated to “B-grade” status, associated with low budgets and inconsistent quality, despite a consistent, if underserved, audience.
However, recent box office triumphs unmistakably showcase the genre’s significant commercial viability. Films like Bou Buttu Bhuta (Odia, 2025), directed by Jagdish Mishra, achieved an astounding 400% profit, while well-received Malayalam horrors such as Bramayugam demonstrate a clear public appetite for quality genre content. The success of horror-comedies like Stree 2 further highlights audience receptiveness when fear elements merge with mainstream appeal.
Furthermore, Shaitaan (2024) emerged as a major theatrical hit, grossing over ₹211 crore worldwide against a ₹60-65 crore budget, proving horror’s ability to draw large crowds and top stars like Ajay Devgn and R. Madhavan. The Chhorii franchise (Chhorii 1 & 2 Abundantia Entertainment) has also garnered substantial viewership and critical acclaim on Prime Video for its compelling, folklore-infused narratives, validating the genre’s strength on OTT platforms. Most notably, Munjya (2024) became a surprise super-duper hit, collecting over ₹132 crore worldwide from a modest ₹30 crore budget, yielding significant profits and underscoring the potential of well-executed, culturally rooted horror-comedies even without A-list leads.
Despite these compelling indicators, the broader industry, has been slow to fully acknowledge or heavily invest in pure horror. This hesitancy might stem from a lingering perception of the genre as niche or inherently risky, overlooking its lower reliance on star power and higher potential for return on investment (ROI), which make it a highly attractive proposition for filmmakers.
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