‘120 Bahadur,’ ‘Chhaava,’ ‘Skyforce’: Real-life stories, historic battles, and courtroom dramas that dominated Bollywood in 2025

Patriotism and sacrifice forged the backdrop of the war drama ‘120 Bahadur,’ based on the 1962 Sino-Indian War’s Battle of Rezang La, depicting the remarkable courage of 120 Indian soldiers against insurmountable odds. With a strong emotional delivery and a respectful portrayal of history, ‘120 Bahadur’ was favorably received before a wide release date of November 21, 2025.

Leading the pack was ‘Chaava,’ the highest-grossing Hindi film of the year, crossing the Rs 800 crore mark worldwide and becoming a massive commercial hit with a large cultural impact. Adapted from a novel on Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, it illustrated the Maratha king's bravery, military strategy, and unswerving dedication to his people in resisting the Mughal Empire, which ultimately led to his being martyred.

Another major success of the year was the historic courtroom drama 'Kesari 2,' based on 'The Case That Shook The Empire,' which documented C. Sankaran Nair's courageous legal pursuit to discover the truth of the Jallianwalla Bagh Massacre of 1919. The gripping story, along with strong performances, generated over Rs 144 crore in ticket sales worldwide, making it one of the most significant top-grossing films of the year.

Meanwhile, ‘Skyforce’ revisited the 1965 Indo-Pak War, focusing on the Indian Air Force’s daring retaliatory strike on Pakistan’s Sargodha Air Base. Packed with high-intensity aerial combat and patriotic fervor, the action drama resonated strongly with audiences, going on to collect more than Rs 168 crore worldwide.