From Kesari to 2.0: Akshay Kumar’s biggest box office blockbusters

Akshay Kumar is back with a bang in his latest movie, ‘Kesari Chapter 2: The Untold Story of Jallianwala Bagh’, which released on April 18, 2025. Directed by Karan Singh Tyagi, this film is a gripping courtroom drama about C. Sankaran Nair, a brave lawyer played by Akshay, who fights the British Empire to reveal the truth about the tragic 1919 Jallianwala Bagh massacre. R Madhavan stars as the British lawyer Neville McKinley, while Ananya Panday plays lawyer Dilreet Gill, who helps Nair in his battle for justice.

This film is a spiritual follow-up to Akshay’s 2019 hit ‘Kesari’ and is based on the book ‘The Case That Shook The Empire’ by Raghu Palat and Pushpa Palat. The film has already created a lot of excitement, with over 50,000 tickets sold in advance and Rs 3 crore collected before its release. Let’s also take a look at other Akshay Kumar movies that have performed impressively at the box office, all numbers taken from Sacnilk.

Released in March 2019, ‘Kesari’ is a powerful war drama directed by Anurag Singh. Akshay Kumar plays Havildar Ishar Singh, who leads 21 Sikh soldiers against thousands of Afghan fighters in the famous Battle of Saragarhi in 1897. The film honours the courage and sacrifice of these soldiers. With its thrilling story, strong acting, and stirring music, ‘Kesari’ won the hearts of many. It earned Rs 155.7 crore net in India and grossed Rs 208.8 crore worldwide. The film’s mix of emotion, patriotism, and action made it a big hit and one of Akshay’s most memorable movies.

‘Sooryavanshi’, released in November 2021, is an action-packed police drama directed by Rohit Shetty. Akshay Kumar stars as DCP Veer Sooryavanshi, a tough cop trying to stop a major terrorist attack in Mumbai. The film also features Katrina Kaif, with special appearances from Ajay Devgn and Ranveer Singh, linking it to Shetty’s earlier films ‘Singham’ and ‘Simmba’. Its thrilling action scenes and patriotic spirit, made ‘Sooryavanshi’ a huge hit, earning Rs 195.55 crore net in India and grossing Rs 293 crore worldwide. It marked a strong return to big Bollywood action films after the pandemic.

‘Mission Mangal’, released on India’s Independence Day in 2019, is a science drama directed by Jagan Shakti. The film is based on the true story of India’s Mars Orbiter Mission, which made India the first Asian country to reach Mars orbit on its first try. Akshay Kumar leads a talented cast including Vidya Balan, Taapsee Pannu, and Sonakshi Sinha, playing scientists who overcome many hurdles to achieve this historic success. The inspiring story, great acting, and patriotic message helped the film earn Rs 203.08 crore net in India and gross Rs 290 crore worldwide.

Released in December 2019, ‘Good Newwz’ is a fun and heartwarming comedy directed by Raj Mehta. Akshay Kumar stars alongside Kareena Kapoor Khan, Diljit Dosanjh, and Kiara Advani. The story is about two couples with the same surname who get their IVF treatments mixed up, leading to funny and emotional moments. The film was praised for handling a sensitive topic with humour and warmth. It earned Rs 205.09 crore net in India and grossed Rs 316 crore worldwide.

‘Housefull 4’, released in October 2019, is a colourful comedy directed by Farhad Samji. Akshay Kumar stars with Riteish Deshmukh, Bobby Deol, Kriti Sanon, and Pooja Hegde. The story is about four friends who discover their past lives from 600 years ago and the chaos that follows. Known for its slapstick humour and lively sets, ‘Housefull 4’ was a favourite for those wanting light-hearted fun. It earned Rs 210.3 crore net in India and grossed Rs 296 crore worldwide, making it one of Akshay’s top comedy hits.

‘2.0’, released in November 2018, is a sci-fi action film directed by S. Shankar. It is the sequel to the 2010 hit ‘Enthiran’ (‘Robot’). Akshay Kumar plays the villain Pakshi Rajan, a man who becomes a powerful force fighting against mobile radiation harming birds. Rajinikanth returns as Dr Vaseegaran and his robot Chitti. The film is famous for its amazing visual effects, grand scale, and a story that highlights environmental concerns. ‘2.0’ became the highest-grossing Indian film at the time, earning Rs 407.05 crore in India and Rs 744.78 crore worldwide.