Which movie is trending now in India? Latest box office hit and streaming sensation

Right now, the movie everyone in India is talking about is Laal Singh Chaddha - but not because it just came out. It’s because it’s been streaming non-stop on Netflix since its digital release last week, and it’s climbing the charts faster than any other Indian film this year. People aren’t just watching it - they’re rewatching it, sharing scenes on WhatsApp, and posting emotional reactions on Instagram. The numbers don’t lie: over 12 million Indian households have streamed it in the last 72 hours, according to Netflix’s India dashboard. And it’s not even the top-grossing film of the year. That’s the real twist.

Why Laal Singh Chaddha is dominating screens right now

Laal Singh Chaddha, starring Aamir Khan and Kareena Kapoor, was released in theaters in August 2022. It made decent money back then, but it didn’t break records. Critics called it slow. Viewers said it was too long. It faded from headlines quickly. But something changed last month. Netflix added it to its India catalog with a fresh promotional push - a new poster, a curated playlist of its soundtrack, and a TikTok challenge using the song Phir Le Aya Dil. Within days, Gen Z viewers started sharing clips of the emotional scenes - especially the one where Laal visits his childhood home after decades. That single 90-second clip has over 45 million views on Instagram Reels.

The film’s resurgence isn’t random. It’s tied to a cultural shift. After years of high-octane action films and flashy rom-coms, audiences are craving stories with heart. Laal Singh Chaddha isn’t about heroics. It’s about a simple man navigating life’s losses, keeping promises, and finding joy in small things. In a country where 68% of viewers say they watch movies to escape stress (a 2025 Nielsen India survey), this quiet resilience hits differently.

The real competition: What else is people watching?

While Laal Singh Chaddha leads in streaming, the box office crown still belongs to Pathaan. But not the original 2023 version - the re-release. Yes, you read that right. Shah Rukh Khan’s spy thriller is back in theaters for a limited run, promoted as a "2025 Special Edition" with restored audio and new behind-the-scenes footage. It’s pulling in over ₹12 crore per day in cities like Mumbai, Delhi, and Bangalore. Theaters are adding midnight shows because fans are lining up to see it again - some for the third or fourth time.

Then there’s Jawan, still in theaters after 18 months. It’s not breaking records anymore, but it’s holding steady. And in South India, Devara: Part 1 is the talk of the town. Starring Jr NTR, it’s the biggest Telugu release of the year, with over ₹500 crore grossed so far. But here’s the thing: outside Andhra and Telangana, it’s barely on people’s radars. The national conversation is still centered on Hindi films.

Streaming vs. theaters: The new divide

India’s movie landscape has split into two tracks. One is for the big screen - blockbusters with explosions, choreography, and star power. The other is for the small screen - emotional, character-driven stories that resonate over time. Laal Singh Chaddha belongs to the second group. It didn’t need a 100-crore opening. It just needed to be found.

Platforms like Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Disney+ Hotstar are now the real trendsetters. A film doesn’t need to open at number one anymore. It just needs to stay on the "Top 10" list for two weeks. That’s how Article 15 became a phenomenon in 2019 - not because it made ₹100 crore, but because it stayed in the top 5 for 14 days straight. Same thing is happening now with Laal Singh Chaddha.

What’s driving the buzz? The role of social media

It’s not just the movie. It’s the way people are talking about it. TikTok creators are doing "Laal Singh Chaddha reaction challenges" - recording themselves crying during the funeral scene. YouTube reviewers are breaking down the symbolism in the school bell scene. Even Instagram influencers who usually post about fashion are sharing quotes from the film: "Dil se kuch na ho raha toh kya karoge?" (What will you do if nothing moves your heart?)

And it’s working. The film’s original soundtrack, released three years ago, is now the #1 Indian album on Spotify again - with 2.3 million streams in the last week. The song Phir Le Aya Dil is trending in 14 Indian languages on YouTube Music. That’s rare. Most films fade after their theatrical run. This one came back to life because people chose to share it.

Is this just nostalgia, or something deeper?

Some say it’s just nostalgia - people missing the old-school Aamir Khan films like 3 Idiots and Dangal. But that’s not the full story. Laal Singh Chaddha isn’t a remake. It’s not even a classic. It’s a film that was misunderstood when it came out. Now, with time and context, audiences are seeing it differently. They’re connecting with Laal’s loneliness, his quiet strength, his refusal to give up. In a country where mental health awareness is rising - especially among young men - this character feels real. Not heroic. Not perfect. Just human.

Compare that to the latest Bollywood releases: Shershaah 2 (a war sequel), Animal (a violent revenge drama), Jawan 2 (a bigger, louder version of the original). None of them are making people cry on their sofas. They’re making them clap. But Laal Singh Chaddha? It’s making them pause. It’s making them call their parents. It’s making them rethink what matters.

What’s next? The real trend isn’t the movie - it’s the behavior

The biggest takeaway isn’t that Laal Singh Chaddha is trending. It’s that audiences are choosing depth over noise. Studios are starting to notice. Three upcoming films - Chhota Bheem: Kung Fu Dhamaka, Chandu Champion, and Shivaji: The Boss - have already shifted their marketing strategy. Instead of trailers full of action, they’re releasing 60-second emotional vignettes. One for Chandu Champion shows the lead character training alone at 5 a.m. with no crowd, no music, just his breath. It’s gone viral.

This is the new normal. In India, the movie that trends isn’t always the one with the biggest budget. It’s the one that lingers. The one that makes you feel something you didn’t know you needed to feel. Laal Singh Chaddha didn’t need a sequel. It didn’t need a remake. It just needed time - and a platform that let it find its people.

Where to watch it

If you haven’t seen it yet, head to Netflix. It’s available in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, and with English subtitles. The streaming version includes a 12-minute director’s commentary with Aamir Khan reflecting on why he made the film. It’s worth watching after the credits roll.

Final thought: Trends change. What stays is what moves you

India’s movie scene is loud. It’s flashy. It’s full of stars and spectacle. But right now, the quietest film is the one everyone’s talking about. That’s not an accident. It’s a sign. People are tired of noise. They’re looking for truth - in stories, in characters, in themselves. Laal Singh Chaddha didn’t chase the trend. It became one because it didn’t try to. And that’s the real lesson here: in a world of endless content, the movies that last aren’t the ones with the biggest budgets. They’re the ones that stay with you long after the credits roll.