Director N. Chandra
· Cast Anil Kapoor, Madhuri Dixit
· Released 7 Oct 1988
India Nett
₹13.0 Cr
After GST
Overseas
₹₹2.0 Cr
International gross
Budget
₹1.5 Cr
Production cost
Boxoffy VerdictAll-Time Blockbuster
Tezaab is classified as an All-Time Blockbuster — Boxoffy's highest verdict, reserved for films that permanently altered the commercial landscape of Indian cinema. With ₹13 Cr India nett against a reported budget of ₹1.5 Cr, representing a 867% return on production cost, it belongs to a small elite of films that transcend their release year and enter the cultural record. An All-Time Blockbuster does not just recoup costs — it redefines what a successful film can be.
Boxoffy Read
Tezaab launched Madhuri Dixit into a stardom that would define the next decade — 'Ek Do Teen' is one of the most viscerally entertaining song sequences in Hindi cinema, and its success was built entirely on her ability to make disciplined choreography look like pure spontaneous joy. The film itself is a revenge thriller with a genuinely dark undertow that the musical sequences only partially soften: N. Chandra understood that the 1980s audience wanted both catharsis and sensation. At ₹13 Cr it was the highest-grossing Hindi film of 1988.
Financial AnalysisBox Office vs Budget
Tezaab was reportedly made on a budget of ₹1.5 Cr. Against that investment, the film collected ₹13 Cr India nett — a 8.7x multiple on production cost and a 867% return on the reported budget.
Break-even at the Indian box office typically requires approximately 1.5x the production budget once prints, advertising and distribution costs are factored in — placing the break-even threshold for Tezaab at roughly ₹2 Cr India nett. The film cleared this threshold, resulting in the All-Time Blockbuster verdict.
₹0Break-even ~₹2 Cr₹13 Cr collected
Frequently Asked Questions
Tezaab is classified as a All-Time Blockbuster by Boxoffy. The film collected ₹13 Cr India nett against a reported budget of ₹1.5 Cr. The film was commercially profitable.
Tezaab collected ₹13 Cr India nett at the box office. The India nett figure represents collections after GST extraction, as reported by Box Office India and cross-referenced with Sacnilk and Pinkvilla.
Tezaab released in 1988 and is likely available on major Indian streaming platforms. Check Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, JioHotstar, ZEE5 and SonyLIV for current availability, as OTT rights shift periodically.
Tezaab was directed by N. Chandra. The 1988 Hindi film earned a All-Time Blockbuster verdict at the Indian box office, collecting ₹13 Cr India nett.