Maharaja, starring Vijay Sethupathi, has become the first Indian film to release in China following last month’s agreement between India and China to normalise relations and resolve the border standoff in eastern Ladakh. On its opening day, the film garnered approximately ₹16 crore (RMB 13.37 million) at the Chinese box office, according to ticketing platform Maoyan.
The film has been well-received by Chinese audiences, earning a high score of 8.7/10 on the popular review platform Douban. This makes it one of the most highly-rated Indian films in China in recent years.
Directed by Nithilan Swaminathan, Maharaja features a stellar cast including Anurag Kashyap, Mamta Mohandas, and Natty Natraj. The story revolves around Maharaja (played by Sethupathi), a barber from Chennai who visits a police station to reclaim his stolen dustbin, only for the situation to take an unexpected turn, revealing deeper intentions.
The film was a massive success in India when it released on June 14, crossing the ₹100 crore mark domestically. Its success in China underscores its universal appeal and the growing popularity of Indian cinema in the region.
This marks a significant milestone, as Maharaja is the first Indian movie screened in China after both nations agreed to ease tensions along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh. The diplomatic breakthrough comes after over four years of a border standoff.
In the past, Indian films like Three Idiots, Dangal, and Secret Superstar, all starring Aamir Khan, have achieved remarkable box office success in China, cementing the appeal of Indian storytelling among Chinese audiences.
Maharaja is produced by Sudhan Sundaram through his Passion Studios banner and Jagadish Palanisamy under his banner, The Route. It has cinematography by Dinesh Purushothaman, music by B. Ajaneesh Loknath, and editing by Philomin Raj.
