Top 10 Highest Grossers Of 1998 Which Turn 25 In 2023
Posted On: 16 Jan 2023 | Last Updated : 06 Mar 2024 | Views : 876
The Bollywood of 1998 was characterised with quirky love stories which just like always increased the expectations of love life for the youngsters during the time. The rom-com became the most favourite genre of the cine-lovers in 1998, who loved to see happy endings to the love stories in the Bollywood movies. However, some of the thriller crime action dramas like 'Satya' and 'Ghulam' also received good response from Bollywood-lovers. Post 1998, the world of cinema changed in India, as Bollywood finally received the status of industry from the National Democratic Alliance government. This changed the nature of film financing, as the corporate businesses entered the Bollywood industry to fund the films, and the increased budget of the movies helped the films garner more profits. So, let’s check out the top 10 highest grossing Bollywood movies of 1998 which turn 25 in 2023.
1. Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (16 October)
The romantic comedy-drama Kuch Kuch Hota Hai was the debut film of Bollywood’s prominent director Karan Johar. The movie revolves around a college-going boy named Rahul (Shah Rukh Khan), and his best friend Anjali (Kajol), who spend most of their time playing basketball. Anjali is a tomboy, who is secretly in love with Rahul. However, their friendship and Anjali’s love are tested by the arrival of a new girl named Tina (Rani Mukherji) in their college. Rahul proposes Tina for marriage, which breaks Anjali’s heart and she decides to leave the city. Years later, Rahul is shown as a single parent taking care of his daughter named Anjali Khanna (Sana Saeed). Little Anjali learns about her father’s friend and his first love Anjali and decides to get them reunited, which restarts Anjali and Rahul’s story.
The movie received immense love, especially from the youth, and was often compared with the romantic comedy Dil To Pagal Hai (1997), which was also a love triangle that featured Shah Rukh Khan. Kajol’s portrayal of a tomboy and gradual transformation of her character received praise from both audience and critics. Furthermore, Rani Mukherji’s role as the ‘hot girl’ of college added more flavour to the movie, while Shah Rukh Khan continued to win hearts with his unique and lovable acting skills. The acting skills of the three key actors in the movie along with Karan Johar’s direction made the movie a blockbuster and highest-grosser of the year.
2. Pyaar To Hona Hi Tha (24 July)
Directed by Anees Bazmee, Pyaar To Hona Hi Tha was the romantic comedy-drama inspired by the 1995 English comedy-drama French Kiss, directed by Lawrence Kasdan. The movie follows the story of a young girl named Sanjana (Kajol), who is engaged to her lover Rahul (Bijay Anand). However, Rahul cheats on Sanjana and leaves her for the girl whom he meets in India and falls in love with. Sanjana doesn’t give up her love for Rahul and plans to win him back. She hires a man named Shekhar (Ajay Devgn) to pose as her boyfriend to make Rahul jealous so he returns back to Sanjana. However, in the process to make Rahul jealous, Sanjana and Shekhar fall in love with each other.
The movie was highly praised, especially for the acting skills of Kajol, who was claimed to be unarguably one of the most competent actresses of that period. Along with the acting of the actors, the movie was praised for its music, and singer Jaspinder Narula that year earned Filmfare and Screen Awards for singing the title song of the movie, ‘Pyaar To Hona Hi Tha’. The movie was a super hit and became the second-highest domestic grosser of 1998.
3. Soldier (20 November)
Abbas-Mustan’s action suspense thriller drama, Soldier revolves around a young boy named Vicky (Bobby Deol), the son of Major Vijay Malhotra. Vijay Malhotra is betrayed by his colleagues and subsequently gets killed and proven to be the traitor; however, his family knows that he is innocent. It is then, Vijay’s son Vicky decides to avenge his father’s death and prove his innocence. Vicky learns that his father’s murderers are in Australia, and using the information, he travels to Sydney and woos Preeti (Preity Zinta), the daughter of Pratap Singh, Vijay’s colleague who betrayed him. Things go according to the plan, but there is more to what the eyes can see, and Vicky is expected to beware of what comes his way to ensure success in his mission.
The soundtrack of the movie composed by Anu Malik was a super hit. Additionally, the acting of Bobby Deol and the innocence of Preity Zinta charmed the audience, which helped the movie to get all the praise, love, and success, and the movie successfully became the third-highest domestic grosser of 1998.
4. Bade Miyan Chote Miyan (16 October)
The comedy-action drama featuring Amitabh Bachchan and Govinda in the titular role, Bade Miyan Chote Miyan was directed by David Dhawan. The movie follows the story of two police inspectors named Arjun and Pyare, who work in the same police station. Their life is peaceful and happy until the two get framed for a series of crimes, but the two know that they are innocent. After studying the cases thoroughly and investigating the cases, the two realize that it is their look-alikes who have been carrying out the crimes under their identity.
The comedy timing of the lead actors and the chaotic yet hilarious scenes was the charm of the movie. The music received the same praise, which made the movie one of the Bollywood highest-grosser movies of 1998.
5. Pyaar Kiya To Darna Kya (27 March)
Directed by Sohail Khan, the romantic drama Pyaar Kiya To Darna Kya featured Salman Khan and Kajol in the lead roles. The movie follows the story of a young man named Suraj Khanna, who meets a beautiful cheerful girl, Muskaan Thakur in his college and eventually falls in love with her. However, when Muskaan’s brother Vishal learns about her love affair with Suraj, he instantly develops a dislike for him and rejects him. It is then Suraj realizes that he must first win Vishal’s heart to marry Muskaan and gets to work to get together with his true love.
The song from the movie ‘O O Jaane Jaana’ picturized on Salman Khan gained immense popularity while his fandom and craze among the youngsters intensified as the film went on to become the fifth highest grosser of the year.
6. Satya (03 July)
Ram Gopal Varma’s action crime drama Satya tells the story of a young innocent man named Satya (J.D. Chakravarthy), who takes the path of crime and joins the underworld. He joins one of Mumbai’s notorious gangsters called Bhiku Mhatre (Manoj Bajpayee) with whom he tries to reign supreme by eliminating other existing gangs. In the meanwhile, Satya falls in love with his neighbour Vidya (Urmila Matondkar) without disclosing his identity. Finally, the police get the better of Satya.
The movie was one of its kind, which was something different from the regular love stories of Bollywood. It was filmed during the monsoon season in Mumbai, which improvised the scenes and took the narration to a different level. The characters, music, storyline, and picturization of scenes were loved by the cine-goers, which made it one of the highest-grossing Bollywood films of 1998.
7. Ghulam (19 June)
Vikram Bhatt’s action romantic drama Ghulam starred Aamir Khan and Rani Mukerji in the lead roles. The movie follows the story of a young man named Siddharth Marathe (Aamir Khan), who idolizes his freedom fighter father and revolts against the gangster, who was responsible for killing an innocent man. Siddharth decides to bring justice to the innocent man and ensures to make everything is right. However, his actions are highly criticized by his brother, who thinks that his actions are worthless and only will intensify the problems for Siddharth and his entire family, but Siddharth continues to fight for what is right.
Ghulam proved to be a breakthrough in Rani Mukerji’s career and helped her become one of the top actresses in the industry during that time. The movie was praised for the innocence of Rani Mukerji and the intense role played by Aamir Khan, which was the reason for the movie’s success that became one of the Bollywood highest grossers of 1998 that turn 25 in 2023.
8. Major Saab (26 June)
Directed by Tinnu Anand, the action-drama Major Saab featured Ajay Devgn, Sonali Bendre, and Amitabh Bachchan in titular roles. Army officer, Major Jasbir Singh (Amitabh Bachchan) decides to teach a regular rule breaker, Virendra Pratap (Ajay Devgn), a lesson in the National Defence Academy. Virendra Pratap is all set to be discharged from his duties, but Major Jasbir Singh decides to tame him. Later, when Virendra falls in love with a gangster’s daughter, he decides to mend his ways to stay close to her and be in the army. Later, Major Jasbir and Virendra Pratap join hands to rescue the entire beau and succeed in the mission.
The movie was well-received by the audience to be a complete package, while the storyline, characters perfectly executed by the actors, and good music, helped the movie to succeed and become one of the top ten highest grossers of 1998.
9. China Gate (27 November)
The action romantic drama China Gate, directed by Rajkumar Santoshi, is a multi-starer movie featuring exceptional actors, like Naseeruddin Shah, Om Puri, Tinnu Anand, Amrish Puri, Jagdeep, Mamta Kulkarni, Samir Soni, Mukesh Tiwari, and Paresh Rawal. The movie revolved around an honest and diligent army officer, Colonel Puri, who requests ex-army officers, who were court-martialed for wrong claims to help him. Colonel Puri needs assistance and help from these ex-army officers to successfully rescue the village from an evil bandit Jageera, who wishes to take over the entire village.
The movie was a tribute to Akira Kurosawa’s Seven Samurai and was made on a budget of ₹ 20 crore, which was one of the costliest budgets of Bollywood during the time. The storyline and acting of the key actors in the movie helped the movie to become one of Bollywood’s highest grosser of 1998.
10. Dulhe Raja (10 July)
Govinda and Raveena Tandon starrer romantic comedy-drama Dulhe Raja, directed by Harmesh Malhotra, follows the story of a young man named Raja who opens a ‘Dhaaba’ next to a 5-star hotel operated by a wealthy tycoon named K.K. Singhania. However, the new restaurant in the location imposes a threat on Singhania’s business, who then decides to end Raja’s restaurant and his business in the locality. Things change when Raja and K.K. Singhania’s daughter fall in love with each other and form a team, which makes the situation complicated for the latter.
The timing of Govinda and Raveena Tandon, their dance moves, and perfect music helped the movie to taste success and make it to the top ten Bollywood highest-grosser movies.
