From ‘Dil Se’ to ‘Ramayana’: How Indian Cinema Shattered the U.K., Ireland Box Office Glass Ceiling

By Naman Ramachandran

Naman Ramachandran

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• From ‘Dil Se’ to ‘Ramayana’: How Indian Cinema Shattered the U.K., Ireland Box Office Glass Ceiling 51 minutes ago
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When Mani Ratnam’s romantic thriller “Dil Se..” debuted in August 1998, it achieved what was then considered unthinkable for South Asian cinema: entering the official U.K. and Ireland top 10 box office chart at No. 8. Powered by Shah Rukh Khan’s burgeoning overseas stardom and A.R. Rahman’s ubiquitous soundtrack, the film proved that Indian releases could cut through mainstream British multiplexes on limited screens.

That watershed moment initiated a 28-year ascent across Bollywood and South Indian regional industries, culminating this weekend when Sony Pictures’ mythological epic “Ramayana: Rise of a Legend” debuted at No. 1 with £2.1 million ($2.8 million) including previews, officially claiming the territory’s box office summit.

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