The romantic film Saiyaara, directed by Mohit Suri and featuring debut performances from Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda, has been named the most popular Indian movie of 2025 by IMDb. This recognition comes after a comprehensive analysis of films released in India between January 1 and November 30, 2025, highlighting the film’s appeal to audiences worldwide.
In a competitive landscape, Saiyaara outperformed notable titles, including Ashwin Kumar’s mystical action film Mahavatar Narsimha and Laxman Utekar’s Chhaava. The full list reflects a diverse range of storytelling, showcasing the vibrancy of India’s film industry.
Akshaye Widhani, CEO of Yash Raj Films and producer of Saiyaara, expressed pride in the film’s success. “Being named the Most Popular Indian Movie on the IMDb 2025 list is a moment of immense pride for all of us at YRF,” he said. Widhani emphasized that the film has connected with audiences across various demographics, breaking geographical and cultural barriers.
Recognition for Innovation in Indian Cinema
The popularity rankings included five Hindi films, two Tamil films, and one each from Kannada and Malayalam cinema. Notably, Mahavatar Narsimha became the first animated feature to make the annual list, released in five languages simultaneously.
Yaminie Patodia, head of IMDb India, commented on the significance of the list. “The Most Popular Indian Movies of 2025 demonstrate the boldness and innovation of Indian creators,” she stated, highlighting the diverse storytelling that spans genres such as romance, animation, superhero epics, and satire. Patodia noted that these distinctly Indian narratives resonate strongly with global audiences.
The list was compiled based on films that achieved an average IMDb user rating of 6 or higher and garnered more than 250 million page views worldwide.
Top 10 Most Popular Indian Films of 2025
The complete top ten list, showcasing the range and creativity of Indian cinema, includes:
1. Saiyaara
2. Mahavatar Narsimha
3. Chhaava
4. Kantara: A Legend – Chapter 1
5. Coolie
6. Dragon
7. Sitaare Zameen Par
8. Deva
9. Raid 2
10. Lokah Chapter 1: Chandra
As the film industry continues to evolve, Saiyaara stands out as a shining example of how cinema can become an integral part of cultural narratives, marking a significant achievement for Yash Raj Films and the Indian film landscape at large.
