In an era where cinema’s fortunes are made and broken by word-of-mouth in mere hours, even legends aren’t immune to the unforgiving nature of the box office. Tamil cinema’s titan, Kamal Haasan, has been riding a rollercoaster of theatrical fortunes over the past few years — with one colossal blockbuster and two highly anticipated misfires. As his latest release Thug Life completed its first week at the box office, it’s worth dissecting how the veteran star’s recent films have performed, the numbers they’ve put up, and what these outcomes signify in the ever-evolving landscape of Indian cinema.The Rise: Vikram’s Phenomenal TriumphIt all started with Lokesh Kanagaraj’s 2022 action-thriller Vikram — a gritty, genre-bending film that not only rejuvenated Kamal Haasan’s box office standing but also established a cinematic universe that fans lapped up.This was Haasan’s first film after a four year gap- his last being Vishwaroopam which was also embroiled in controversy. Vikram opened to roaring applause and sustained its momentum thanks to slick action, a pulsating background score by Anirudh, and sharp performances. The film was a massive blockbuster, grossing Rs 247.32 crore in India and Rs 414.43 crore worldwide, making it the highest-grossing Tamil film of 2022 and one of the biggest hits of Haasan’s illustrious career.More than just its earnings, Vikram redefined Kamal’s brand — from a cerebral, experimental icon to a mass-action hero who could pull in the Gen Z and millennial crowd without alienating his loyal older audience.The Middling Follow-up: Indian 2’s Incomplete VictoryIn July 2024 came Indian 2, the long-delayed sequel to Haasan’s 1996 classic. Directed by Shankar, it brought back the character of Senapathy, the vigilante freedom fighter, decades later. The film saw the light of day, riding on the goodwill of Vikram and during it’s production it was decided that the film would be spilt into two parts making it into a trilogy.The film opened decently, with a Rs 25.6 crore on day 1 in India and ended it’s week 1 run with Rs 70 crore collection and lifetime collection of Rs 81.32 crore . The collections began to dip post 1 and was never able to recover. The film fell short of the towering expectations set by its predecessor and Vikram. Critics called it overstuffed and sluggish in parts, and audiences were lukewarm about its rehashed themes.The film failed to live up to the brand it carried — a problem increasingly faced by legacy sequels in today’s fast-moving cinema culture.The Misfire: Thug Life’s Stuttered SprintIf Vikram was a triumph and Indian 2 a underperformer, Mani Ratnam’s Thug Life, released on June 5, 2025, was an undeniable letdown.Touted as one of the biggest Tamil productions of the year, Thug Life saw Kamal Haasan team up with Silambarasan (Simbu) in a stylized gangster drama. The film opened with a Rs 15.5 crore domestic net on Day 1, showing initial promise. But despite star power and high expectations, it stumbled almost immediately with day 8 collecting only Rs 1.15 crore. .By the end of Day 8, the film’s India net stood at Rs 43.37 crore. The buzz faded rapidly, with multiplexes reducing shows and single screens shifting focus to newer releases. Industry watchers believe a combination of mixed reviews, an incoherent screenplay, and lack of emotional connect led to its early downfall.The Controversy: A Political Firestorm That Hurt the NumbersAn unexpected hurdle for Thug Life arrived in the form of a language controversy. During the film’s promotions, Kamal Haasan’s comments suggesting that Kannada is derived from Tamil ignited outrage in Karnataka. The backlash was swift and severe with the film’s release being blocked in the state.This cost Thug Life crucial revenue in one of South India’s fastest-growing film markets. Trade analysts estimate that this boycott denied the film at least Rs 6-8 crore over the week in additional domestic collection, potentially softening the blow of its underperformance.A Glimpse Into Kalki 2898 AD — But Not a GamechangerIt’s impossible to ignore the juggernaut that is Kalki 2898 AD, which minted Rs 646.31 crore gross across languages. While Kamal Haasan features in the film as a mysterious antagonist named Supreme Yaskin, it’s only a brief appearance in the first part, meant to set up a larger role in the sequel.Hence, while Kalki’s success adds to Haasan’s career commercially, in a technical sense, it cannot be counted as a triumph anchored by him.The Verdict: A Star in TransitionKamal Haasan’s recent box office journey highlights the unpredictable nature of stardom in contemporary Indian cinema. While Vikram proved he still has the power to deliver record-breaking blockbusters, Indian 2 and Thug Life underline the importance of content over nostalgia, no matter how celebrated the star.External factors like controversies and piracy added to Thug Life’s woes, but fundamentally, it’s a reminder that the audience today demands well-paced, emotionally charged, and narratively tight films — not just star-led spectacles.As Kamal preps for his expanded role in Kalki’s sequel and potential new projects, his box office graph remains a fascinating case study of how legends navigate the shifting sands of modern Indian cinema.
