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Dhar Rules the Rostrum, But Who’s Really Winning the Box Office War?

The numbers are out. The rankings are live. Now comes the reckoning.

By Day One1 min read

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Current hype level44

Aditya Dhar has claimed the top spot in Koimoi’s latest Director Box Office Power Index, scoring 2,200 points — surpassing Rajkumar Hirani (1,050) and SS Rajamouli (800), who share third place with other directors at 800. The ranking is based on a formula that awards 100 points for every film crossing ₹100 crore, 200 for ₹200 crore, 300 for ₹300 crore, 500 for ₹500 crore, and an additional 50 points for each film in the top 10 highest-grossing overseas releases.

In case of a tie, the director with higher individual film collections takes precedence. Dhar’s lead stems from a string of high-performing military dramas, Uri, Shershaah, and others. That have consistently drawn strong domestic and international audiences. His ascent marks a shift toward directors whose work resonates beyond just spectacle, anchoring commercial success in storytelling and emotional weight.

Yet the list remains focused on Hindi cinema, excluding South Indian directors unless their films are released in Hindi. That boundary raises questions about how the data reflects the broader Indian film landscape. Meanwhile, the Star Box Office Power Index reveals Ranveer Singh at the summit with 3,000 points, ahead of Salman Khan (2,850), Akshay Kumar (2,400), Shah Rukh Khan (2,300), and Ajay Devgn (2,100).

Points are calculated similarly: 100 for ₹100 crore films, 200 for ₹200 crore, 300 for ₹300 crore, 400 for ₹400 crore, 500 for ₹500 crore, and 600 for ₹600 crore films, plus 50 for each entry in the top 10 overseas grossers. In case of a tie, the actor with more films in higher box office clubs takes priority, or, if equal, the one with higher total collections.

The rankings were last updated on October 4, 2026. Though the methodology is transparent, the figures remain unverified by independent sources. No claims are made about inflation, audience trends, or release patterns. Still, the data is live.

The conversation is underway. And next week, another slate of films will hit theatres. The scoreboard resets. Again.

Box office collection trackerLatest India net, gross and worldwide totals for every film in cinemasOpen →

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This article was written by the CutMirchi desk from the reporting above. Facts are attributed to their original publishers.

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