A film that earned ₹3 crore in India managed to sell an astonishing 30 crore tickets in China, outshining even blockbusters like Dangal, RRR, and Pushpa 2: The Rule. The performance of Maharaja in China has once again brought the success of Indian films in international markets into the spotlight.
Caravan’s Unmatched Success in China
Released in 1971, Caravan was a modest-budget crime thriller starring Jeetendra and Asha Parekh. While it earned ₹3.6 crore in India, it’s in China that the film truly made history. Caravan sold 8.8 crore tickets in its original release, setting a record as the highest-grossing foreign film in China at the time. Over several re-releases, this number soared to 30 crore, breaking records set by other iconic films like Sholay in India and Awara in the Soviet Union.
Caravan vs Other Blockbusters
While Dangal holds the title of the biggest overseas hit for an Indian film, earning $238 million from China, it sold only 4.31 crore tickets — a mere fraction of Caravan’s ticket sales. Similarly, RRR, despite its massive success in the US and Japan, sold only 30 lakh tickets in total in these regions. Pushpa 2: The Rule, another massive success, has not come close to Caravan’s overseas success either.
Caravan’s Global Reach
With over 32 crore tickets sold worldwide, Caravan stands as one of the most-watched Indian films in theatres, although it has been surpassed by Sholay, which sold 20 crore tickets in its original run. The film’s chart-topping songs, including Chadhti Jawani, Piya Tu Ab To Aa Ja, and Dilbar Dil Se Pyare, remain iconic even today. Caravan grossed ₹35 crore worldwide, becoming one of the highest-grossing Indian films in the 70s and 80s.
The Legacy of Caravan
Caravan’s massive success in China remains unmatched by any other Indian film, even decades after its release. This phenomenon highlights the global appeal and enduring popularity of Indian cinema.
