Republic Day: Rang De Basanti, Agneepath, Padmaavat and other movies released around January 26 and became superhits at the box office

Republic Day: Rang De Basanti, Agneepath, Padmaavat and other movies released around January 26 became superhits at the box office

• Republic Day releases often lead to box office hits for Bollywood films
• Rang De Basanti, Agneepath, and Pathaan were major holiday hits.
• Big stars and patriotic themes help drive Republic Day box office triumphs

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Republic Day has long been a high-stakes window for Bollywood, promising big footfalls and patriotic buzz. Over the years, several films released on or around January 26 have struck gold, proving that the right story can turn a holiday release into a box office triumph.

Bandit Queen (26 Jan 1996)

Shekhar Kapur’s hard-hitting biographical drama, led by Seema Biswas as Phoolan Devi, proved that a tough, uncomfortable story can still pull crowds. Backed by a fearless central performance and raw realism, the film went on to be a Super Hit despite its intensity.

Rang De Basanti (26 Jan 2006)

Starring Aamir Khan with Siddharth, Sharman Joshi, Kunal Kapoor, Atul Kulkarni, Soha Ali Khan, this youth drama landed perfectly in the Republic Day mood without feeling preachy. Songs, friendships, and political anger fused into a film that became a cultural moment and a solid Hit.

Agneepath (26 Jan 2012)

A full-blown commercial storm: Hrithik Roshan as Vijay, Sanjay Dutt as Kancha, with Priyanka Chopra and Rishi Kapoor adding weight. The revenge saga had scale, swagger, and repeat value, and it translated into a clean Super Hit outcome on the holiday release.

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Released in Republic Day week

Airlift (22 Jan 2016)

With Akshay Kumar and Nimrat Kaur, this evacuation drama built momentum through word-of-mouth and emotional payoff rather than gimmicks. The subject was serious, but the storytelling stayed accessible, which helped it expand beyond the opening weekend and finish as a Super Hit.

Raees (25 Jan 2017)

Featuring Shah Rukh Khan, Nawazuddin Siddiqui, and Mahira Khan, this gangster drama came with strong music, mass moments, and star power. Even with a crowded market and big expectations, it held firm enough to be declared a Semi Hit.

Padmaavat (25 Jan 2018)

A spectacle-driven period film starring Deepika Padukone, Ranveer Singh, Shahid Kapoor. Huge scale, iconic set pieces, and intense curiosity value made it a theatrical event. It delivered the kind of extended run holiday releases dream of, ending up a Blockbuster.

Race 2 (25 Jan 2013)

A glossy franchise thriller with Saif Ali Khan, John Abraham, Deepika Padukone, Anil Kapoor. It leaned into twists, style, and a familiar brand promise, which paid off during the holiday corridor. Box Office India lists it as a Semi Hit for its overall run.

Pathaan (25 Jan 2023)

A true Republic Day-week juggernaut: Shah Rukh Khan, Deepika Padukone, John Abraham. The film rode action spectacle, star comeback energy, and mass repeat viewing to historic numbers. Box Office India described it as an All Time Blockbuster (their top-tier classification).