For years, Indian cinema has predominantly featured male-led blockbusters, with only a few women-fronted films like Mother India, Pakeezah, and Seeta Aur Geeta achieving notable box office success. However, in the past decade, the Rs. 100-crore club has seen more women-led films, with stars like Alia Bhatt and Kangana Ranaut contributing multiple hits. Yet, one movie outshines them all in global earnings, and it was led by a 16-year-old.
Secret Superstar, directed by Advait Chandan and released in 2017, follows a young singer’s journey against her strict father. This coming-of-age film, Zaira Wasim’s first leading role after Dangal, was produced by Aamir Khan, who also had a cameo.
Domestically, Secret Superstar earned Rs. 64 crore net (Rs. 90 crore gross) on a modest budget of Rs. 15 crore. Its release in China, however, turned it into a phenomenon, earning $124 million (Rs. 750 crore), with additional revenue from Hong Kong and other markets bringing its worldwide earnings to Rs. 905 crore, making it India’s highest-grossing woman-led film.
No other Indian woman-led film has reached half of Secret Superstar’s earnings. In second place is Adah Sharma’s The Kerala Story, which grossed Rs. 304 crore worldwide. Kangana Ranaut’s Tanu Weds Manu Returns (Rs. 255 crore) and Manikarnika (Rs. 133 crore), along with Alia Bhatt’s Gangubai Kathiawadi (Rs. 212 crore), Raazi (Rs. 196 crore), and Dear Zindagi (Rs. 135 crore), also make the top 10. Rani Mukerji’s Hichki (Rs. 208 crore), Kriti Sanon, Kareena Kapoor, and Tabu’s Crew (Rs. 157 crore), and Veere Di Wedding (Rs. 139 crore) round out the list.
Zaira Wasim’s career started with unprecedented success; her first two films, Dangal and Secret Superstar, collectively earned close to Rs. 3000 crore globally. She was only 16 when Secret Superstar achieved its record-breaking success, winning her a National Film Award and a Filmfare Award. However, at just 18, Zaira chose to leave Bollywood, citing conflicts with her faith. Her last film, The Sky Is Pink, was released post-retirement, though she abstained from promotions. Today, Zaira leads a private life away from the spotlight.
