Not ‘Baahubali’,’Dangal’ or ‘RRR’—This Aamir Khan film is the most popular Indian movie of the 21st century

IMDb has unveiled a special report celebrating 25 years of Indian cinema on its platform, mapping the biggest trends from 2000 to 2025. Among its most striking revelations is that Rajkumar Hirani’sThe report highlights India’s “Global Moment”, tracking how crossover films have moved beyond the diaspora to win widespread international acclaim. On IMDb’s global popularity index—which measures worldwide page views as well as the percentage of traffic from outside The only other Indian films to find comparable resonance overseas include Taare Zameen Par, My Name is Khan, Monsoon Wedding, and The Lunchbox. Yet none of them come close to the universal popularity of 3 Idiots. Other big titlesIts popularity reached extraordinary heights in China, where the film became a cultural phenomenon. So much so that several universities even included it in their coursework, using it as a stress-relief tool for students.

At the time of its release, was the highest-grossing Indian film ever, a record it held until Dhoom 3 surpassed it in 2013. Fifteen years on, it remains not only a box office milestone but also India’s most impactful cinematic crossover in the global arena.