IMDb has unveiled its list of the top 20 most eagerly awaited Indian movies of 2025, showcasing performances by some of the nation's biggest stars.
As the new year 2025 begins, a new slate of films is set for cinema release. Following a successful 2024 with many Indian films grossing over ₹1000 crore, several major films are set to release in 2025 as well. The Internet Movie Database (IMDb) issued its list of the most anticipated Indian films of 2025, and unexpectedly, a Salman Khan picture topped the list.
The most anticipated Indian film for 2025
IMDb named Salman Khan’s Sikandar as the most anticipated Indian film of 2025. The movie, helmed by AR Murugadoss, features a star-studded cast including Rashmika Mandanna, Sathyaraj, Prateik Babbar, Kajal Aggarwal, and Sharman Joshi. With an estimated budget of ₹400 crore, it is an action-packed venture and signifies Murugadoss’ return to Hindi films after a 17-year hiatus. He last directed a Bollywood film in 2008, Ghajini. Sikandar is scheduled for release in March.
Director A.R. Murugadoss expressed his thanks and delight, saying, I’m truly humbled to see Sikandar top the Most Anticipated Indian Movies of 2025! Collaborating with Salman Khan has been an incredible experience! His energy and dedication truly bring Sikandar to life in a way that’s beyond words! A heartfelt thanks to Sajid Nadiadwala for making this opportunity a reality. Every scene in Sikandar is designed to create an unforgettable impression! I poured my heart and soul into creating each moment so that viewers would remember it forever.
Films that Sikandar beat
Sikandar defeated several heavyweights from Bollywood and the south on the list. Kannada actor Yash’s first film after the KGF series, Toxic, is second on the list, followed by Rajinikanth and Lokesh Kanagaraj’s debut collaboration, Coolie. Akshay Kumar’s ensemble comedy Housefull 5 and Tiger Shroff’s Baaghi 4 make out the top five. Other films in the top ten include Prabhas’ The Raja Saab, War 2 with Hrithik Roshan and Jr NTR, Mohanlal’s Lucifer sequel, L2: Empuraan, Shahid Kapoor’s Deva, and Chhaava starring Vicky Kaushal.
How IMDb created the list
On Tuesday, Internet Movie Database shared the list on their social media handles and explained how the rankings were derived. Among the Indian movies with planned releases in 2025, these titles were consistently the most popular with IMDb users, as determined by the actual page views of the more than 250 million monthly visitors to IMDb worldwide, according to the headline.
