In Pics | 2025’s must-watch films based on real-life stories

Real-life-based stories dominated Indian cinema this year. These must-watch releases, covering everything from historical battles to social justice, impressed audiences' imaginations and achieved substantial box office returns. Take a look...

Chhaava

Poster of Chhaava.

Chaava, the highest-grossing Hindi film of 2025, was a massive commercial success, grossing over Rs 800 crore worldwide. Based on the novel about Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, the film depicts the warrior-king's valour, strategic genius, and ultimate sacrifice while fiercely defending the Maratha Empire against the formidable Mughal forces.

Kesari 2 - The Jallianwalabagh Chapter

Based on The Case That Shook The Empire, the gripping historical courtroom drama Kesari 2 follows C. Sankaran Nair’s legal fight to expose the truth of the 1919 Jallianwala Bagh Massacre. This box office success collected over Rs 144 crore globally.

Haq

Poster of Haq.

Inspired by the Shah Bano Begum case, Haq is a powerful courtroom drama centered on a divorced woman's fight for maintenance. The film explores a pivotal Supreme Court judgment and its impact on gender equality. Due to strong word-of-mouth, this success story has already collected over Rs 11.25 crore (India net) and remains at the box office.

120 Bahadur

Poster of 120 Bahadur.

The film narrates the unbelievable bravery of a small detachment of 120 soldiers who fought in the Battle of Rezang La during the 1962 Sino-Indian War. This deeply moving war drama honours their heroic last stand against overwhelming Chinese forces. Having opened to strong reviews, the film was highly anticipated wide release on November 21, 2025.

Skyforce

Poster of Sky Force.

Skyforce, an action drama about the 1965 Indo-Pak War, chronicles the critical IAF retaliatory strike deep inside enemy territory (Sargodha Air Base). Showcasing intense aerial combat, this film's patriotic appeal resulted in a substantial box office collection, exceeding Rs 168 Crore worldwide.

Ikkis

Poster of Ikkis.

Ikkis, a biographical war drama, is the final anticipated release of 2025. It tells the story of Second Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal, who displayed indomitable courage during the 1971 Indo-Pak War's Battle of Basantar and was posthumously awarded the Param Vir Chakra. The movie is all set to release on December 25, 2025.