How a modest Indian musical became one of the most profitable films in history
In short: With a production budget of just 150 million rupees, Secret Superstar achieved a staggering return on investment exceeding 6,000 percent. This 2017 musical drama, which follows a teenager using the internet to bypass social constraints, transformed into a global phenomenon, particularly in China, where it shattered records for foreign cinema.
Directed by Advait Chandan, Secret Superstar tells the story of Insia Malik, a young girl from Baroda who secretly uploads singing videos to YouTube while wearing a niqab to hide her identity from her abusive father. The film explores themes of domestic violence and female empowerment, drawing inspiration from real-life stories of middle-class individuals finding agency through digital tools. Chandan developed the project after researching domestic abuse for the television show Satyamev Jayate, where he encountered a mother who defied societal expectations to support her family.
The film’s commercial trajectory is extraordinary. While it performed respectably in India, its release in China in January 2018 turned it into a massive financial success. It became the first Indian production to secure a revenue-sharing agreement in China, a privilege typically reserved for major Hollywood blockbusters. By February 2018, the film had grossed over 900 crore rupees worldwide. This performance established Aamir Khan, who produced and starred in the film, as the only Indian actor with multiple projects grossing over 100 million dollars in overseas markets.
Critical reception remained largely positive, with reviewers praising its emotional resonance and its role as a powerful narrative about motherhood. The film’s success in China was particularly notable, as it outperformed high-budget international releases from major studios during the first quarter of 2018. By the time it finished its theatrical run, it had secured its place as one of the highest-grossing non-English foreign films ever released in the Chinese market, trailing only the film Dangal.
Opens the Intellect+ feed with this card first. Swipe up for the next one.
Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Secret Superstar
- Also: Wikidata — Secret Superstar · CC0
- Also: Wikidata — Secret Superstar · CC0
To cite this card, link to https://intellectplus.co.uk/app/entertainment-secret-superstar.
How we source, check and correct cards: Editorial standards.
General information, not professional advice. Spotted an error? Flag the card or see corrections and complaints.
Intellect Plus is a visual educational discovery platform for exploring fascinating facts and ideas. Brain Food, Not Brain Rot. What is Intellect Plus?
Related
More in Films · More in Entertainment · Latest · A–Z · All topics
