Ashwin Kumar's animated film, Mahavatar Narsimha, has become a box office success, exceeding expectations and outperforming several major Bollywood releases. The film's surprising performance, especially its growth on its first Monday, has turned it into a dark horse at the box office, surpassing Sitaare Zameen Par, Housefull 5, and Sikandar in certain aspects.

Box Office Performance

Mahavatar Narsimha, produced by Hombale Films and Kleem Productions, hit theaters on July 25, 2025. By August 4, 2025, just ten days after its release, the film had grossed over Rs 105 crore globally. In India, the film earned an estimated Rs 98.30 crore in its first 11 days. On its first Monday, the film saw an extraordinary surge in collections, raking in Rs 3.89 crore, a 166.44% growth from its opening day, which was Rs 1.46 crore. This is a rare feat, as most films typically experience a drop on Mondays.

The Hindi version of the film has been a major contributor to its success, earning Rs 1.51 crore on its opening day and continuing to lead in collections. As of August 2, 2025, the Hindi version had grossed Rs 38.12 crore. The film has also performed well in Telugu, with collections around Rs 12.67 crore.

Comparison with Other Films

Mahavatar Narsimha's box office performance is particularly noteworthy when compared to other films released in 2025. While many big-budget films experienced significant drops on their first Mondays, Mahavatar Narsimha saw a remarkable increase. Housefull 5 fell by 58.93%, and Sikandar dropped by 50%. Even Sitaare Zameen Par, another star-driven release, dropped 20.56%. This makes Mahavatar Narsimha a rare exception and indicates strong audience engagement.

The animated film has not only outperformed these films in terms of Monday collections but has also become a major competitor to other releases. As of August 2, 2025, Mahavatar Narsimha was stealing a chunk of the footfalls from Saiyaara, and giving tough competition to Son Of Sardaar 2 and Dhadak 2 in the Hindi belt.

Factors Contributing to Success

Several factors have contributed to the success of Mahavatar Narsimha. Strong word-of-mouth promotion and positive audience feedback have played a crucial role in driving footfalls. The film's narrative, rooted in Indian mythology, has resonated with audiences of all age groups. The blend of traditional storytelling with modern animation has also been praised, making it a family-friendly option that educates and entertains.

The film's director, Ashwin Kumar, aimed to create an ambitious mythological universe rooted in indigenous storytelling. He chose the format of a cinematic universe to reflect the larger arcs across the ten avatars of Vishnu, with plans for six more animated films through 2037. This vision, combined with the support of Hombale Films, has helped Mahavatar Narsimha stand out in the Indian animation industry.

Future Prospects

Mahavatar Narsimha's success has paved the way for more large-scale, theatrical animated releases that blend Indian themes with universal appeal. The film is also set to release globally, with plans to dub it in English, Japanese, Spanish, Korean, and Russian. This ambitious global push could further solidify its position as a groundbreaking film in Indian animation. With projections now pointing towards a Rs 150–200 crore global haul, Mahavatar Narsimha may well mark the beginning of a new era for Indian animation.